According to an announcement, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant in the amount of $8.6 million, which funds the salaries of 30 new firefighters over the next three years.
“This additional funding from FEMA, following last year’s SAFER grant award, will allow the department to get closer to its authorized complement of 452 members and the department’s goal of four firefighters on every apparatus,” said Fire Chief Martin Dyer in a statement. “We thank FEMA for these investments in our department, which will ensure proper staffing and resources to safely and effectively serve our community.”
FEMA awarded Worcester’s department $14.1 in September of 2022 so 60 firefighters could be hired. The department also received the Assistance to Firefighters Grant award for $806,000 to increase the department’s inventory of self-contained breathing apparatuses, personal radios, and turnout gear for new recruits.
This most recent SAFER award totals an approximately $23.6 million in FEMA grants to the WFD in the last two years.
“This is truly incredible news for our fire department,” said City Manager Eric D. Batista in a press release. “Our city continues to grow, and it is imperative that our fire department grows alongside. This funding allows us to continue to support staffing initiatives, as laid out in our strategic plan, and make important investments in resources to assure safety in our emergency responses. I want to thank our federal and state delegation, Mayor, and City Council for their support of public safety in our city.”
