Local Shelby County fire departments will receive extra funds for operations and training thanks to a nearly half a million dollar grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby announced the federal funding, part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, last week.

Six fire departments in Shelby County and over a hundred other departments across Alabama will receive funding, according to Shelby.

&uot;It is critical that our federal, state and local governments work together to ensure that our fire responders have the necessary tools to face emergencies quickly and effectively when they occur,&uot; Shelby said.

&uot;I am pleased that the Department of Homeland Security has awarded these funds to fire departments across Alabama.&uot;

Two departments that received more than $100,000 in federal funds were the city of Chelsea Fire and Rescue Department and the Four Mile Fire and Rescue Department in Wilsonville.

&uot;We are very thankful for this grant,&uot; Wilsonville Mayor Rosemary Liveoak said. &uot;Even small communities need help, and this is huge for us. I’m very excited.&uot;

Each department in the state receiving funding was awarded either an &uot;Operations and Firefighting&uot; grant or a &uot;Firefighting Vehicles Acquisition&uot; grant.

The operations grant includes more training, equipment, personal protective gear, wellness and fitness and modifications to fire stations and facilities.

The vehicle grant provides funding for pumping trucks, brush trucks, tankers and tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulances, foam units and fireboats depending on the each department’s needs.

Chelsea will receive funds to extend operations and firefighter safety programs while Wilsonville will receive money for firefighting vehicles.

Other local departments receiving federal fund included:

$29,260 for Dry Valley Fire and Rescue in Montevallo for operations and firefighter safety.

$30,670 for Summer Hill Volunteer Fire Department in Columbiana for operations and firefighter safety.

$30,187 for Kingdom Fire and Rescue in Columbiana for operations and firefighter safety.

$65,550 for County 17 Fire and Rescue in Maylene for firefighting vehicles.

The program funds are administered through the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Domestic Preparedness.

Shelby said $650 million had been secured for fire departments across the nation this year.