By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D) from Selma announced on Wednesday that the City of Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service has been awarded a $1,955,628 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant.
Rep. Sewell said, “Firefighters put their lives on the line every day across the State of Alabama to keep our citizens safe from harm. This grant will retain and create much needed jobs for Birmingham firefighters and will ensure that there is adequate staffing and resources to continue protecting our communities.”
Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Chief Ivor Brooks said, “I want to thank Congresswoman Sewell for her continued support. This grant will allow us to fill our staffing needs and will truly help us better serve our community and keep our families safe.”
SAFER grant awards are administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency along with the U.S. Fire Administration.
Birmingham Fire and Rescue will use the funding from this grant to recruit and retain firefighters and hire roughly 65 firefighters.
Because of the lackluster economy we have experienced since 2008, some fire departments have had to lay off firefighters. The SAFER grant program awards grants directly to fire departments to help increase the number of frontline firefighters and to rehire laid-off firefighters.
Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell represents Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District. Alabama’s only Democrat was just reelected to her second term in Washington.
