FEMA Awards $11 Million More in SAFER Grants

July 16, 2010 -- The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded another round of Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants, this time totaling $10,923,018 to help bring fire fighters back to work.

These grants come at a critical time for IAFF affiliates as they struggle to prevent layoffs and maintain staffing levels in the face of tight budgets.

“Because of these grants, thousands of fire fighters will be able to stay on the job with the resources they need to make sure that communities are safe,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “State and local lawmakers should embrace this program with both arms for the safety, security and the economic stability that it offers to the communities they have been elected to serve.”

U.S. fire departments have now received approximately $162 million in SAFER grants in Fiscal Year 2009, putting more than 1,500 fire fighters back to work.

Prince George’s County, MD Local 1619 received the largest share of the awards in this round -- $3,458,681.

The Prince George’s County Fire Department has been woefully understaffed for years, says Local 1619 president Andrew Pantelis. There are currently 767 career fire fighters on the job, leaving it short by about 100 positions.

“Unfortunately, we routinely can only send out two fire fighters on engines,” Patellis says. The SAFER award, pending approval from county lawmakers, will allow the fire department to hire 24 new fire fighters to begin training at the start of 2011.

The Canton Fire Department and Canton, OH Local 249 received a $3,440,136 SAFER grant. “These grants will allow us to begin to return to safe staffing levels. We are very thankful for all who helped us win this funding,” says Local 249 President Rosario Carcione.

Other IAFF locals to benefit from SAFER grants this round include: Alameda Fire Department and Alameda Local 689 ($1,763,753) and Hemet Fire Department and Hemet, CA Local 2342 ($2,260,448).

Administered by FEMA, $210 million is available in Fiscal Year 2009, and another $420 million has been appropriated for Fiscal Year 2010 under the new guidelines negotiated by the IAFF that allow SAFER funds to be used to rehire fire fighters laid off as a result of the economic crisis. The grants available in Fiscal Year 2010 will restore another 3,400 jobs.

For a full list of SAFER grants awarded, click here.

For additional information or assistance, contact Jennifer Stewart at (202) 824-8631 or jstewart@iaff.org.