New Grant Awards Coming Soon:  Latest word according to FEMA, is that grant awards will begin soon after the 4th of July.

Next Grant Deadline Fast Approaching:  According to the Help Desk, FEMA plans to accept another round of AFG grant applications beginning in August 2018.  Click here for a list of High Priority Funding Items, http://www.resourcesolutionsnow.com/our-services/fema-firefighter-grant-program.  If you need help preparing your next grant, get started early, because the schedules of qualified grant writers are filling up fast!

What to Do if You Received a Turn-Down Letter  Many departments received AFG turn-down letters this Spring.  Now is the time to revise those applications and get them ready to resubmit...

A wind-fueled grass fire which broke out Wednesday evening south of Prosser has grown to burn an estimated 2,500 acres so far. State fire resources are being requested to help battle what's been dubbed the Montecito Fire. State incident commanders are considering the fire at zero percent containment until their crews can check the fire and verify local officials’ report of 80 percent containment, said incident management team spokesman Ben Shearer.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2018 10:21:53 AM - SOURCE: Yakima Herald-Republic

A 34-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department died Wednesday at Aria Torresdale Hospital, two days after he was critically injured at the Fire Academy in Holmesburg. Lt. Benny Hutchins, 62, who joined the Fire Department in 1984, was participating in a training exercise at the academy at 5200 Pennypack St.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Philly.com

An Austin Fire cadet died at the hospital on Tuesday, according to the a tweet sent Tuesday evening from the department. The cadet was identified as Devon Coney. "Immense sadness over the passing of one of our best and brightest, Devon Coney, who died earlier this evening at a local hospital. Devon’s positive attitude, ever-present kindness and joy, and megawatt smile are just a few of the many things we’ll miss," Austin Fire tweeted Tuesday evening.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KVUE-TV ABC Austin

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of public employees' First Amendment rights to decline to pay union dues, marking a potential blow to the funding for influential unions of public employees. The decision marks a big moment for Justice Neil Gorsuch, who voted with the majority and broke the tie from 2016 when the court was split 4-4 in the same case after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ABC News