The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Thursday it has awarded more than $1.2 million in grant funding to firefighters and other organizations in Puerto Rico. FEMA said the money supports firefighters and emergency personnel, who are often first to arrive at disaster scenes and play an essential role in keeping communities safe. The funds come through FEMA's fiscal year 2025 fire grant programs: the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program, and the Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program, whose funding opportunities were published in May 2026, making $648 million available across the three programs.
Over the coming week, FEMA will distribute funds directly to fire departments, first-responder agencies and other fire-prevention and firefighter-safety organizations. In Puerto Rico, the announced $1.2 million falls under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and can be used for standards-compliant personal protective equipment, emergency response vehicles, and health, wellness and resilience initiatives. About $790,000 will go to the municipality of Toa Baja, in northern Puerto Rico, to acquire vehicles for its Fire Department, while more than $440,000 will go to Puerto Rico's Fire Bureau for operations and safety.
FEMA noted this adds to prior funding sent to Puerto Rico for recovery from hurricanes María (2017) and Fiona (2022).