Ruppersberger, Team Maryland Announce $1.4 Million Grant for Baltimore City Fire Department

Grant will pay for 300 new Automatic External Defibrillators

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger along with Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin as well as Representatives Elijah Cummings and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) today announced that the Baltimore City Fire Department has been awarded $1,449,600 in competitive federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to purchase life-saving firefighting equipment. 

The grant funds will allow the Baltimore City Fire Department to purchase 300 Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs), which enable firefighters to quickly detect and treat life threatening cardiac emergencies.

“Studies show that, for each minute defibrillation is delayed, the chance of survival for someone in sudden cardiac arrest is cut by 10 percent,” said Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger. “So this grant is putting proven life-saving technology into the hands of our first responders. It’s just the type of investment in basic government services and human lives we should be making.” 

AFG grants fund firefighting equipment, personal protection equipment, training, firefighting vehicles, firefighter/first responder safety projects, and staffing recruitment and retention, as well as public fire safety education. Since 2001, Maryland fire departments and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) units have received more than $123 million in AFGP funding, almost $10 million of which has gone to the Baltimore City Fire Department.  

“I know how important this funding is to Maryland communities – often it’s the difference between life and death. First responders protect our homes and communities, and the federal government has a responsibility to protect them by providing them with the tools they need to do their jobs safer and smarter,” Senator Mikulski said. “Every day when our first responders report for duty, they don’t know what they will face. That’s why I fight every year for the equipment, training, and staffing our protectors and communities deserve.”

"When a natural disaster occurs or we are faced with a terrorist attack, it is our first responders who provide the first line of defense for our citizens,” said Senator Cardin.  “This federal funding is an important investment in keeping Maryland families and businesses safe if and when a disaster strikes.  It ensures that our first responders have the resources they need to protect us and the equipment and training they need to do their jobs.” 

“This funding is a significant endowment for the Baltimore City Fire Department and for the public service system of our City.  These brave first responders respond to more than 235,000 emergency 911 calls each year, and this funding will equip them to be more effective and efficient in that work,” said Cummings. “I commend the Baltimore City Fire Department on earning this award – an honor that underscores their pledge to provide the best possible service to the people of Baltimore.” 

“Baltimore's first responders put their lives on the line every day to keep our and communities safe,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “These brave men and women are ready to roll at the sound of an alarm and it's our responsibility to make sure they have first-rate equipment and adequate resources to do their job.”

“We are grateful for the efforts of Senator Mikulski and Baltimore’s entire Congressional delegation to secure the AFG grant award for the Baltimore City Fire Department,” said Baltimore Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “This grant funding will support our ongoing effort to improve emergency response and better serve our community.” 

“This Fire Act Grant will allow us to provide state of the art Emergency Medical care to the residents of Baltimore. I want to thank Senator Mikulski, Senator Cardin and the entire Maryland delegation to Congress for their continuing support of the fire service and especially the City of Baltimore. We would not be able to upgrade our life-saving equipment without your help,” said Baltimore City Fire Chief Clack.