WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema today announced an opportunity to increase the number of trained firefighters in Arizona communities through a federal grant program. Sinema encourages fire departments and volunteer organizations across the state to apply.
“Arizona firefighters put their lives on the line to protect us,” said Sinema, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. “This federal funding opportunity will help our fire departments recruit, hire, and retain firefighters, and better protect Arizona communities. We encourage all eligible fire departments in Arizona to apply.”
This federal funding is available through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program, operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is open to Career, Combination and Volunteer Fire Departments, and Statewide or local firefighter support groups. The program enables fire departments to recruit and retain volunteer and career firefighters so that fire departments can attain and maintain 24-hour fire department staffing.
Eligible fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations are encouraged to apply for these funds by March 22, 2018 by 5:00 p.m. ET. Information on the SAFER grant program can be found by going to Grants.gov and at FEMA’s website.
Sinema has long advocated for Arizona firefighters and first responders. Last year, as fires tore through the West, Sinema passed an amendment cutting red tape and allowing the Marana-based Supertanker to deploy and help firefighters respond to wildfires. Sinema also backed legislation that improves tracking and research of cancer rates in firefighters.
