Westland Fire receives $2.4 million grant to hire 13 firefighters
Posted On: Nov 01, 2019
Westland hopes to hire 13 firefighters with a $2.4 million federal SAFER grant the city fire department recently received.
SAFER stands for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, and the grants are managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The grants are intended to help firefighting agencies increase or maintain their number of trained “frontline” firefighters in their communities.
Westland officials say the city will contribute to the hiring with matching funds over a three-year period amounting to about $323,000 in years one and two and about $839,000 in the third year.
“There is no doubt that the additional manpower awarded through the SAFER grant will play a vital role in increasing the efficiency of the fire department to continue to provide the excellent service Westland residents deserve," Westland Fire Chief Michael Stradtner said in a press release. "It is our intention to begin hiring as soon as possible and take full advantage of this 'big win' for the City of Westland.”
Mayor William Wild said securing a SAFER grant is competitive process.
“Communities across the county are faced with difficulties adequately staffing their public safety departments," Wild said in the press release. "Westland is fortunate for this opportunity to ensure the fire department can continue to deliver the service residents have to come to expect and deserve."
