The Augusta Fire Department has been awarded $305,405.45 through the FY 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The funding will support behavioral health services and early cancer detection screenings for Augusta firefighters. The grant supports a total project investment of $335,946, allocated toward two initiatives., according to a news release.
“Our firefighters are parents, spouses, neighbors, and mentors who routinely enter environments filled with carcinogens that the average person will never encounter,” said Augusta Fire Chief Antonio Burden. “By integrating annual behavioral health visits and advanced multi-cancer early detection into our wellness program, this grant allows us to take a proactive step toward safeguarding our workforce, ensuring early detection, structured care, and long-term support for those who protect our community every day.”
Part of the grant will go toward behavioral health services; $106,200 is allocated for annual confidential mental health check-ins with licensed clinicians experienced in public safety, along with access to follow-up care when needed.
The other portion of the grant will go toward multi-cancer early detection screenings; $229,746: will go toward screenings designed to identify potential signals associated with more than 50 types of cancer, with coordinated medical follow-up through local healthcare providers.
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