Citrus County Fire Rescue awarded over $238,000 in FEMA grant to upgrade equipment
September 30, 2025
Citrus County Fire Rescue has been awarded a federal grant of $238,930.52 through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security / Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. With a required 10 percent local match, the total project value is $262,823.58.
The highly competitive national grant will allow Citrus County Fire Rescue to replace all outdated 3-inch fire hose and upgrade all 4-inch hose to 5-inch supply hose.
The upgrade will have several benefits for residents:
- Improved safety: The 5-inch hose will increase water flow capacity by nearly 77 percent, allowing for faster and more efficient fire suppression. New hoses also reduce the risk of failure during emergencies.
- Better mutual aid response: Standardizing equipment will ensure seamless operations during mutual aid responses, as several neighboring departments already use 5-inch supply lines.
- Taxpayer savings: Receiving this grant helps offset long-term equipment costs for taxpayers.
“This grant is a major win for our community,” said Fire Chief Craig Stevens. “By replacing aging hose and upgrading to modern 5-inch supply lines, we’re not only improving safety for our firefighters but also ensuring we can deliver more water faster to protect homes, businesses and critical infrastructure. It’s an investment that directly benefits every resident of Citrus County.”
County Administrator Steve Howard added, “I applaud Citrus County Fire Rescue for their proactive approach to finding grants that are vital for saving lives and protecting property.”
Contact
Cortney Marsh, Communications Specialist
cortney.marsh@citruscountyfire.com