Presidential impact: How former presidents addressed fire service funding

From making the first engine purchase to signing AFG into law, past president have played a key role in supporting our firefighters

Upon meeting Bill Clinton, Jerry Brant thanked the former president for signing the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program into to law.

I had the opportunity recently to meet former President Bill Clinton when he visited my area. His speech was focused on backing one of the candidates running for president in the upcoming election. When he concluded his remarks, he stepped down from the stage and began to greet the crowd. Everyone there rushed to the center of the area to get a word and/or a handshake with the former president. I didn’t want to get tangled up and lost in that crowd so I looked off to my right and saw two Secret Service agents and a former state senator standing against barricades that looked like they might be the former president’s path of exit.

As I watched him make his way through the crowd, I knew I had made the right decision. When he reached me, I shook his hand and said, “I’m a volunteer firefighter and I would like to thank you for signing the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program into to law while you were president.”

“Do you know why I did it?” he asked.

“No” I replied.

He said, “Because when I was governor of Arkansas, I found that there were fire departments in my state existing on as little as $500 a year. Now they had antiquated equipment and trucks, but they were still determined to protect their area as best as they could.”

Our conversation on firefighting and finances continued for several minutes until a staffer stated that they needed to get moving.

As I walked away, a local news reporter stopped me and said, “What were you two talking about? You had more time with the former president than anyone else here today.” I replied that we were talking about firefighting, and the reporter got this strange look on his face and said, “Talking firefighting with Bill Clinton?” I then explained to him the importance of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and the money it had brought into this area for fire and EMS. He seemed relieved to know he hadn’t missed a big scoop.

Presidential contributions over the years

As I walked away, it occurred to me that the public and likely many in the firefighting community aren’t aware of the history of federal grant-making in the fire service. So, I’ve compiled a list of contributions by past presidents to remember:

1. George Washington: Not only did he serve as our first U.S. president, but Washington was also a volunteer firefighter and a key figure in establishing fire protection in the colonies. Washington joined the Union Fire Company in Philadelphia, which was formed in 1736. This was one of the first organized firefighting units in America. He later served with the Alexandria (Virginia) Fire Department after it was founded in 1774. Washington also purchased the town’s first fire engine. Even though federal money wasn’t involved in this purchase, I feel it served as the first grant of equipment to the fire service in our country.

2. Harry S. Truman: President Truman utilized federal funds for both wildland fire prevention and urban fire services during his presidency, particularly as part of broader efforts to enhance public safety and disaster preparedness. Truman’s administration allocated federal funds to the U.S. Forest Service to enhance wildfire prevention and firefighting efforts, especially as the threat of wildfires grew in the post-war era. This included funding for training, equipment and infrastructure improvements to better manage forest lands and respond to fires. Truman supported initiatives aimed at improving fire suppression capabilities in national forests. This included investments in aerial firefighting resources and the establishment of more robust fire management policies to prevent and control wildfires. Under Truman, federal funding was directed toward urban renewal projects, which often included improvements to municipal services such as fire departments. This funding allowed cities to upgrade fire stations, purchase new equipment and improve response capabilities. Additionally, in 1947, Truman commissioned a three-day conference to discuss the reduction of fire deaths due to fire in the United States. Today, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation strives to continue the president’s work on fire prevention.

3. Lyndon B. Johnson: Johnson’s Great Society programs included federal funding that was directed toward urban development and public safety initiatives. This funding often translated into resources for local fire departments, allowing them to upgrade equipment, improve training and enhance their operational capabilities. The Johnson administration supported research initiatives related to fire prevention and safety. This included funding for studies on firefighting techniques and equipment, as well as educational programs aimed at training firefighters and enhancing their skills. Under Johnson, the Fire Research and Safety Act was passed, mandating the establishment of a Presidential Commission for research into the hazards of death, injury and property damage caused by fire. The Act authorized a 20-member commission to conduct a two-year study aiming to determine effective measures for reducing the destructive effects of fire.

4. Richard Nixon: Nixon appointed the Commission in June 1971. The following year, Commission members conducted regional hearings across the United States. The Presidential Commission concluded their study on May 4, 1973, submitting a report to President Nixon entitled America Burning: The Report of The National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control .

Nixon’s administration recognized the importance of fire departments and supported federal funding initiatives aimed at improving local firefighting capabilities. The Volunteer Fire Assistance Program (VFA), formerly known as the Rural Community Fire Protection (RCFP) Program, was established in 1972. It provides federal financial, technical and other assistance to appropriate state officials to organize, train and equip fire departments in rural areas to suppress fires. Nixon’s administration promoted fire safety through legislative measures. He signed the National Fire Protection Act of 1973, which led to the formation of the U.S. Fire Administration , the National Fire Academy , the National Fire Incident Reporting System , and the Center for Fire Research.

America Burning contained 90 recommendations developed by the Commission. One of those recommendations was the establishment of a comprehensive program of funding to support the fire service. It took 27 years for that recommendation to lead to the establishment of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program , signed into law by Clinton.

Funding continues

Since its inception, the grant program had its highest point of funding under President George W. Bush. During those years, the program budget was almost twice the amount it is today.

In 2011, AFG, like many other programs, was dramatically reduced through a Congressional process called sequestration, which is a series of automatic across-the-board spending cuts that occur in federal government programs when specific budgetary goals are not met.

In recent years, funding for AFG has slowly crept upward, but that increase has not kept up with the higher prices for fire apparatus and equipment.

Where will financial support for the fire service be in the coming years? That question will be answered on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and elections thereafter.