$2.5m Grant Helps Hire 18 New Firefighters

The Prince George's County Fire and Emergeny Medical Services Department has been awarded a $2.5 million federal grant to hire 18 new firefighters. 

The grant is administered under the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER), which is designed to provide additional funds for local fire departments. 

"The ability to hire 18 firefighters through the SAFER grant will help us improve service delivery and will increase the safety of our first responders by ensuring adequate staffing levels," said county Fire Chief Marc Bashoor. "Our department motto of 'safety first so everyone goes home' is reinforced by having the ability to hire additional staffing to increase safety and reduce on the job injuries."

The new grant funded positions will buttress the 70 new firefighters to be hired over the next year. 

The county fire and emergency services department was last awarded a SAFER grant in 2010, when it received $3.4 million used to hire 24 fire fighters and emergency medics.