The New Fairfield Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant.  The Department will receive about $11,500 in direct assistance grants.  FEMA also awarded the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department $6,400.  Authorized and funded through the Coronavirus CARES Act, the supplemental funding is meant to support the purchase of personal protective equipment and related disinfectant supplies and equipment to help the fire services prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. 98 volunteer and combination fire departments nationwide were awarded funding. By law, 25 percent of the available funds must be awarded to volunteer fire departments and another 25 percent must be awarded to combination fire departments.