This page addresses frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the AFG, SAFER and Fire Prevention & Safety programs.
Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program Frequently Asked Questions
Eligible Fire departments, nonaffiliated Emergency Medical Services (EMS), state fire training academies, and non-federal airport and/or port authority fire or EMS organizations.
Any applicant that receives an AFG Program award must achieve the level of NIMS compliance required by the authority having command and control jurisdiction over the applicant’s emergency service operations, prior to the end of the grant’s period of performance. AFG Program applicants are not required to be in compliance with NIMS either to apply for or receive AFG Program funding.
Operating budget information should be based on your current budget year, fiscal or calendar. At the time of application, if the entity is in its 2022 budget year, then the operating budgets for 2022, 2021, and 2020 should be listed. If the entity is in its 2023 budget year at the time of the application, then the operating budgets for 2023, 2022, and 2021 should be listed.
You will be able to review or edit the entire application prior to submission. However, if you would like to edit or change your application after submission, you will have to withdraw the application from consideration of award to edit. Then, the application must be resubmitted to FEMA to be considered for an award.
NFIRS reporting is strongly encouraged for all fire departments (as defined by 15 USC § 2229(a)(7)) but is not a requirement to apply for AFG Program funds. However, fire departments that receive funding under this program must agree to provide information to NFIRS for the period covered by the assistance. If a recipient does not currently participate in NFIRS and does not have the capacity to report at the time of the award, that recipient must agree to provide information to the system for the length of the grant period of performance commencing as soon as possible after they develop the capacity to report. Capacity to report to NFIRS must be established prior to the termination of the performance period. The recipient may be asked by FEMA to provide proof of compliance in reporting to NFIRS. Any recipient that stops reporting to NFIRS during their grant’s period of performance is subject to having their award(s) modified or withdrawn. NFIRS reporting requirements do not apply to nonaffiliated emergency medical service (EMS) organizations and State Fire Training Academies (SFTAs).
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