Federal Grant Helps Alexandria Bolster Fire Department Staffing

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The City of Alexandria has received federal grants to improve staffing as well as health and safety for personnel. The grants, totaling over $2.6 million, come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response grant allowed the fire department to hire nine new full-time firefighter/emergency medical technicians. This helps the fire department fulfill the goal of having four-person staffing on all fire trucks and engines. Four-person staffing for each fire truck and engine is the recommendation under the National Fire Protection Association's Standard 1710.

Nine new cadets have been hired and are expected to complete training and other requirements by mid 2020.

The grant provides $1.5 million over three years. Future funding to continue the positions after this time period would need to be included in future budget proposals to Alexandria City Council.

The other grant is the Assistance to Firefighters Grant, which provides over $1.1 million for purposes like exercise equipment; additional firefighter and medic cancer screenings; early detection testing for heart disease, stroke and diabetes; behavioral health resources; firefighter and medic fitness and health resources; and increased annual physicals.

The Alexandria Fire Department runs out of 10 fire stations with over 250 firefighters, paramedics, fire prevention staff and administrative support staff.