Six Maine fire departments will share $231,705 in federal grants administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Amounts and recipients are:

• $30,685 to the New Sharon Fire and Rescue.

• $54,340 to the Monmouth Rescue Association.

• $19,000 to Lisbon Emergency Inc.

• $16,910 to the Fort Fairfield Fire Department.

• $47,120 to the York Beach Fire Department.

• $63,650 to the Bremen Volunteer Fire Department.

The awards were announced by Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins, both Maine Republicans.

“Fire and rescue departments are stalwarts of our communities and it is vital that we ensure they are adequately supported so that they can respond to emergencies in a timely manner,” the senators said in a prepared joint statement. “Funding awarded by the Department of Homeland Security will provide greater financial stability to our local heroes and allow them to better serve our communities.”

The money comes from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which awards one-year grants directly to fire departments.

– Doug Fletcher