Wednesday, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, R-Alabama, announced that the City of Montgomery Fire/Rescue Department (MFR) has been awarded $3,553,843 as a part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program.
“This grant will serve a critical role in stabilizing the operational and administrative services of MFR,” said Senator Shelby. “The funding will ensure the city has the proper resources and staff to adequately respond to emergency medical, fire, and rescue incidents throughout the area. I am proud that FEMA has awarded this SAFER grant to facilitate increased safety and security in the City of Montgomery.”
“We could not be more grateful to Sen. Richard Shelby for his role in helping Montgomery secure this SAFER grant to increase the number of firefighters who serve and protect our capital city,” said Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange. “The additional 33 firefighters provided by this grant will help us meet the increasing demand for suppression and emergency medical services. Sen. Shelby’s support for this grant award speaks to his abiding commitment to the public’s safety and his unflagging work on behalf of our city and state.”
This $3,553,843 SAFER grant will provide funding to assist Montgomery in the hiring of additional firefighters and first responders over a three year period to achieve and maintain proper staffing standards.
SAFER grants are awarded to fire departments and national, state, local, tribal, or territorial organizations that represent the interests of firefighters. These grants allow fire departments to increase the number of frontline firefighters and emergency responders with the ultimate goal of attaining 24-hour staffing. SAFER grants are an important way for fire departments to meet the emergency needs of their communities.
Fire department personnel who have questions about the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants of FEMA’s Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) can reach the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program staff by telephone at 1-866-274-0960 or by e-mail at firegrants@fema.dhs.gov.
Enroll in the FEMA/GPD Assistance to Firefighters Grants email newsletter for the most current news releases and updates about SAFER and AFG.
Montgomery has a population of 205,764. It is the second largest city in the State of Alabama.
Senator Richard Shelby is the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He is serving his Sixth term in the U.S. Senate. Prior to his election to the Senate he served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and two terms in the Alabama State Senate.
