Orange County fire departments can apply for FEMA grant funding now

Orange County fire departments have a fresh shot at federal money that could help pay for firefighters, trucks and protective gear at a time when volunteer staffing remains tight across the Hudson Valley.

Rep. Pat Ryan said applications are open through June 22 for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s fire grant programs, which include the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, and Fire Prevention and Safety grants. Ryan plans to host a Zoom webinar on Monday, June 15, to walk departments through the process before the 5 p.m. ET deadline.

FEMA says the FY2025 application window opened May 19 at 9 a.m. ET. The agency says the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program has helped fire departments and non-affiliated EMS organizations buy critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources since 2001. SAFER is aimed at helping departments and volunteer firefighter organizations increase or maintain trained frontline staffing, a direct fit for departments that struggle to keep rigs staffed on weekdays and overnight.

That matters in Orange County, where local agencies often depend on outside grants to stretch limited budgets and keep response times down. Departments and agencies named in prior rounds of Ryan-backed funding include the Village of South Blooming Grove, the City of Port Jervis, the Town of Wallkill Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the Fairview Fire District, the West Clinton Fire District, the Village of Otisville and the Arlington Fire District. For those departments, federal aid can mean replacement gear, updated equipment, staffing support or other infrastructure improvements that are hard to cover locally.

The competition is steep. FEMA’s FY2025 SAFER fact sheet says $324 million will be available nationwide. Ryan, who serves on the bipartisan Congressional Fire Services Caucus and Congressional EMS Caucus, said his office has repeatedly prioritized Hudson Valley firefighters, first responders and law enforcement. Last year, he helped fire departments across Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties secure more than $3.8 million in FEMA money for safety gear and training.

Ryan’s office also pointed to earlier grants, including $324,450 for the City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department and more than $1.4 million for departments in Tivoli, Rifton, Arlington, Kripplebush and Beacon for infrastructure and equipment updates. The broader pattern shows how federal dollars can reach the local level, from new protective gear to the kind of staffing and equipment support that keeps Orange County firehouses ready when the alarm sounds.