U.S. Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-AL) Wednesday announced that two volunteer fire departments in Cherokee County will receive federal funding to assist with the purchase of firefighting vehicles. These funds are available for a variety of vehicles including trucks, ambulances, aerials and fireboats.

Details of the funding are as follows:

$135,000 - Gaylesville Volunteer Fire Department

$153,000 - Leesburg Volunteer Fire Department

These funds have been awarded by the Department of Homeland Security's Office for Domestic Preparedness, as a part of the Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program. This program will distribute $750 million in direct federal assistance to firefighters nationwide this year.

``I am pleased that the Department of Homeland Security has awarded these funds for the Gaylesville and Leesburg Volunteer Fire Departments. It is critical that our federal, state and local governments work together to ensure that our first responders have the necessary resources to face an emergency quickly and effectively should one occur,'' Sen. Shelby said