The Zionsville Fire Department (ZFD) has received a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) SAFER grant of $1,650,952.14 for the hiring of six firefighters. This grant will fully fund the salaries and benefits for six firefighters over three years.
The SAFER program provides funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to assist in increasing the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate fire protection from fire and fire-related hazards.
The federal SAFER grant, which stands for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, comes without any matching requirements for the town.
“Our firefighters work hard, day and night, often putting their own lives on the line, to protect our community,” said Mayor Emily Styron. “This SAFER grant will help our fire department hire additional personnel and ensure our firefighters are better prepared when responding to emergencies.”
“I was honored yesterday to receive notice of our FEMA SAFER Grant award,” said Fire Chief James VanGorder. “Both Labor and Management identified staffing as a priority and have worked over the past couple of years to ensure our staffing levels meet industry best practices while increasing firefighter safety. It is exciting to see the collaborative efforts benefit the Zionsville community as it continues to grow.”