MARYLAND – U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Andy Harris announced on Tuesday more than $200,000 in federal funding for Maryland firefighters and first responders on the Eastern Shore.

We’re told the funding will directly impact fire departments, State Fire Training Academies, and nonaffiliated emergency medical services organizations in an effort to enhance their response abilities and ability to protect the health and safety of both the public and first responders.

The grants were broken down as follows:

This funding comes from the Department of Homeland Security’s Fiscal Year 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.

“Maryland firefighters and first responders are on the front lines every single day, working tirelessly to keep Marylanders safe. This federal funding will help equip our local fire departments with the tools they need to continue doing their jobs safely and providing critical services to Marylanders on the Eastern Shore,” the lawmakers said in a statement.