The City of Arlington announces it has been awarded a $16.6 million federal grant that will help fund the Fire Department’s phased transition to four-person staffing.
Arlington’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant is the third largest awarded by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency out of 177 awarded nationally so far this year. The three-year grant will help the City cover the salary and benefits for dozens of additional firefighters between February 2024 and February 2027.
In September, the Arlington City Council approved a phased plan to transition the Fire Department from three-person staffing to four-person staffing on all fire engine and ladder truck calls for service, a national safety practice standard
implemented in other major cities. The Fire Department, which currently employs 403 firefighters, plans to add 81 new firefighter positions over the next two fiscal years to further enhance the City’s fire prevention, emergency response and community health outreach capabilities. Click here to read more.
The event is set for 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the East Library and Recreation Center. No appointments are necessary, but pre-registration is highly encouraged.Read this article.
