Guam’s first responders just received a game-changing boost — more than $5 million dollars in federal funding, the largest award in Guam Fire Department history. From new fuel-efficient pumpers to modernized maintenance operations, these investments will directly strengthen GFD’s ability to save lives and protect our island.

The agency is celebrating a historic win — more than $5 million dollars in federal funding from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs, an investment in the safety and future of our island. As Acting Fire Chief Joey San Nicolas put it, "This achievement reflects what happens when initiative meets teamwork. Our personnel saw an opportunity, took action, and delivered results that will benefit the entire island"

This funding is split across three critical projects:

- $400,000 under the Technical Assistance Program to boost rescue and response mobility
- $350,000 through the Maintenance Assistance Program to modernize operations and restore aging fleet vehicles
- $4.32 million under the Energizing Insular Communities Program for a new fuel-efficient fire pumper

Collectively, these projects aim to fix long-standing fleet issues, upgrade GFD’s maintenance facility, and place new life-saving equipment directly into the hands of first responders. And at the center of this achievement — Firefighter I Jose J. San Nicolas, whose initiative and persistence sparked the entire process.

"I was at the right place at the right time — in uniform at annual training," he recalled, "when I had conversations with Amanda Blas about an upcoming grant cycle. That’s what really initiated this process.”

San Nicolas says these grants were intentionally chosen to address GFD’s most pressing needs. “We decided on these grants because they align with our department’s priorities. Each program offered funding for critical assets we could procure," he added.

The deadline was tight, but San Nicolas says the motivation was simple: the community. “The community calls on us in their worst times and they expect us to be at our best. Knowing we had the opportunity to secure funding to strengthen our response capability — that’s what pushed me through," he said.

He also thanked his leadership team for their trust, saying, “I want to say thank you to Battalion Chief Brandon Sana and Captain Jarred Leon Guerrero… and to Ms. Amanda Blas. Through true collaboration, these grants were able to be awarded.”

When San Nicolas learned the funding was approved — the emotion was real.  “It was an overwhelming feeling of excitement and relief… knowing the impact these grants would have on the island. Now our focus is materializing these projects," he said.

And for the department, the impact can’t be overstated.  “It’s really exciting — getting $5 million dollars worth of equipment into the hands of first responders. It really bolsters the morale of the department as a whole," he said.

A record-setting federal investment. A major win for Guam’s safety.