Reauthorization of the FIRE Grant Programs

Date: Monday, December 14, 2009 Time: 11:00 AM Location: 2318 Rayburn House Office Building

Opening Statement By Vice Chairman Ben Ray Lujan

Good morning. Today’s hearing addresses a key program in increasing public safety and protecting the safety of first responders. The FIRE Grants help fire departments across the country increase their capabilities to fight fires, respond to medical emergencies, handle disasters, and better confront all that is asked of the modern fire service.

The authorizations for the Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response—or SAFER program—are both facing expirations. These grant programs provide funding for local fire departments, ones in every state and every district, to obtain equipment and training, and to increase their ranks of firefighters.

The FIRE grants were created to help local communities keep up with the needed manpower and equipment to handle the increasing array of tasks falling to local fire departments. The growing duties include emergency medical services, fighting fires at the wildland-urban interface, and serving as first responders to terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

In this economy, maintaining the equipment, training, and personnel to safely and swiftly respond to all calls is increasingly difficult, or impossible, in many jurisdictions. Fire departments around the country have been forced to lay-off firefighters and forego needed equipment and training. Therefore, the over $6 billion of grants that have gone to fire departments since 2000 has been integral to maintaining public safety in many communities. This year and last, fire departments in my district in New Mexico have benefited from a half a million dollars of this funding.

Fire remains a serious problem in the U.S. More people die in fires in the U.S. than from all other natural disasters combined. On average, 3,700 citizens die in structure fires each year, and over 100 firefighters are killed in the line of duty. In addition to these fatalities, there are thousands of injuries and over $10 billion dollars in property lost each year. Fires are often a surprise to their victims but the statistics tell us that fire fatalities and injuries are not random. Demographics shape who is most likely to die in fires; vulnerable populations, like the poor or the elderly suffer the most. Males are more likely to die than females, as are minorities, and those without a high school education. I hope the witnesses today will offer insight on why fires disproportionately affect these individuals and how these trends can be changed.

I would also like to learn today how we can improve upon the contribution FIRE grants make to public safety and the safety of first responders. I hope the witnesses will also offer insight on the best balance to serve the needs of fire departments and the populations they protect. And, I hope to learn how any proposed changes would affect the fire service.

I will now recognize Ranking Member Smith for his opening statement.

Opening Statement By Subcommittee Chairman David Wu

Good morning. I would like to welcome everybody to this morning’s hearing on the reauthorization of the Assistance to Firefighter Grant program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program, known collectively as the FIRE Grant programs. Supporting our nation’s first responders is critical; historically the Science and Technology Committee has been one the strongest backers of the fire service. In the last Congress, the Science Committee reauthorized the U.S. Fire Administration, which delivers vital training and provides national leadership to the fire service. Today, we are looking at the FIRE Grant programs, which help raise the capabilities of fire departments to tackle fires and other emergencies.

Since fiscal year 2001, the AFG program has provided over $4.8 billion to local fire departments to purchase equipment, vehicles, and training. The program, created by Congress in 2000 because of concerns that local budgets were unable to handle the mounting responsibilities being assigned to the fire service, continues to be a critical asset to community safety in this tough economy. Congress created the SAFER program in 2004 to help fire departments hire firefighting personnel and meet voluntary consensus standards on safe minimum staffing levels. Through SAFER, $689 million in grants have gone to help fire departments respond quickly and safely to all emergencies.

Fire is a serious problem in the United States, killing over 3,000 people a year—a rate higher than all other industrialized countries. In addition, approximately 20,000 people are injured, and $10 billion in property is lost each year due to fire. Statistics show that minorities and low-income Americans are disproportionately the victims of fires. The AFG program also supports grants for fire prevention and safety. I hope to learn today about the types of activities the fire prevention and safety grants currently fund and how they may be improved to combat these high numbers of death, injury, and loss.

I am pleased to have a panel of first-hand experts with us who can offer their recommendations on how to improve the FIRE Grant programs to meet the growing challenges our first responders face. From responding to emergency medical calls to fighting wildfires that encroach into adjacent communities, fire departments must be ready for any type of emergency. The nation’s 30,000 fire departments serve a variety of communities, from the largest to the smallest. Many of those who serve as firefighters do so on a volunteer basis. As cities and towns of all sizes struggle to provide services in this economy, the FIRE Grant programs are a key resource for protecting the safety of the public and firefighters.

Witnesses

Panel 1

1 - Congressman Bill Pascrell
New Jersey – 8th District
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Panel 2

1 - Mr. Timothy Manning
Deputy Administrator National Preparedness Directorate Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Preparedness Directorate Federal Emergency Management
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2 - Chief Jeffrey D. Johnson
1st Vice President International Association of Fire Chiefs Chief International Association of Fire Chiefs Chief
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3 - Chief Jack Carriger
Stayton Oregon Fire District First Vice Chairman Oregon Fire District First Vice Chairman
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4 - Mr. Kevin O’Connor
Assistant to the General President International Association of Fire Fighters International Association of Fire Fighters
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5 - Chief Curt Varone
Division Manager Public Fire Protection Division National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Public Fire Protection Division National Fire Protection Associatio
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6 - Mr. Ed Carlin
Training Officer of the Spalding Rural Volunteer Fire Department in Spalding Nebraska Nebraska
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