FRESNO (KMJ) — Millions of dollars of Federal Government money is coming to the Central Valley to help pay for more firefighters.
The $2,069,400 FEMA grant, unveiled Thursday, is part of their SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) program. In real terms, it gives the funds to fill a further 12 firefighter positions and grow the minimum number of staff available daily from 73 to 77.
“We run one to two structure fires a day, that’s unheard of in other cities”, says Fresno Fire Chief Kerri Donis. “Our men and women are prepared, they’re eager, and that’s why a lot of folks want to come to Fresno to work”.
The increase in staffing will create a new Engine Company at Station 11 in Central Fresno, with all twelve new recruits expected to be based there.
“You’re not going to find another metro Fire Department in this country that serves a population of this size, and also has the call volume that we do, that has as few firefighters on duty each day.
“So our story and our challenge here in Fresno is a very strong and compelling story when it comes to those grant review folks and having to make those decisions”.
“This department has been required to do more with less, and that’s a challenge”, reveals Congressman Jim Costa, who joined Chief Donis for the announcement.
“When that fire alarm sounds, regardless of what the nature of the fire or the emergency may be, we as citizens of Fresno expect and hope that they’re going to be able to be there”.
The addition of a dozen new personnel and increasing minimum daily staffing to 77 is part way to the Fire Chief Donis’ vision of 100 firefighters available on duty per day. That drive to bring more people into the ranks of Fresno Fire is something the City of Fresno is in support of too.
“I’d like to thank our City Manager, our Mayor, and our Council, who not only planned in this year’s budget which passed in July for this award – in hopes that we were awarded – but also planned in the budget the sustainment of this grant.
“At the end of this two year grant we will be able to keep these firefighters on duty and continue the growth of this fire department”.
That means that once the funds from FEMA run out, the City of Fresno will pick up the bill for the new crew members and continue to keep the overall numbers at the heightened level.
Last to the podium was President of Fresno City Fire Fighters Local 753 Union Carlton Jones, who described one of his responsibilities as ensuring the well being of members.
“Anytime we get a grant that allows us to have a bigger footprint on the City of Fresno…it’s a great thing”.
He says having more people on duty every day is very important because they can spread the workload between them.
“This is a great and well appreciated investment into our Fire Department”.
Hear the story from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
