Funding for the U.S. Fire Administration's FIRE Grant Program has received a significant boost from Congress, which added $210 million to the fund from a supplemental emergency-appropriations bill.

Combined with the $150 that already was appropriated to the program, the total available for federal grants to the nation's fire departments in 2002 is now $360 million, more than triple the funding available in fiscal year 2001.

"Our phones are ringing off the hook about the extra money," said U.S. Fire Administrator David Paulison, who was with his family on holiday when he got the word about the additional funding. "Everyone is just ecstatic - all of the fire service is ecstatic and excited and pleased that Congress did this."

The legislation was approved by a conference committee that reconciled Senate and House versions of an emergency supplemental spending bill attached to the fiscal 2002 Defense Appropriations Bill (H.R. 3338). The Senate version of the bill originally contained $290 million for the program; the House version specified no appropriation.

The Supplemental Appropriations Bill included a total $20 billion for anti-terrorism, military operations and assistance for New York City.

Congress also passed a bill that authorizes the FIRE Grant Program for $900 million for each fiscal year from 2002 to 2004. "However," explained Marko Bourne, USFA Executive Assistant for Communications, "you have to remember the difference between an appropriation bill and an authorization bill. Authorization bills are 'this is what we would like the program to be in a perfect world,' but the appropriations bill says, 'this is what you're getting.'"

Still, there are hopes the program will be funded at $900 million in fiscal year 2003, says Craig Sharman, legislative director for the National Volunteer Fire Council. "When the appropriation season starts for 2003, we're hoping to see that figure in the President's budget for the program to be fully appropriated at $900 million. That's what we're going to be shooting for next year and I think that's a realistic figure in light of all that's happened and the needs of the fire service."

International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Harold Schaitberger hailed the appropriation action as a "major victory for fire fighters." He called the additional FIRE Act funds "a significant down payment on the government's responsibility to local fire departments."