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Washington County approves SAFER grant application to seek 18 firefighters
Summary
The Board authorized submission of a FEMA SAFER grant to hire 18 firefighters; county would fund part of the cost if the grant is awarded and will fund nine positions regardless of grant outcome.
The Washington County Board of Commissioners authorized the county’s Division of Emergency Services to apply for and, if awarded, accept FEMA SAFER grant funding to hire 18 firefighters.
David Hayes, director of emergency services, told commissioners the application window opened in late May and closes July 3. "We're looking for a motion to authorize the Division of Emergency Services to submit a FEMA SAFER grant application to hire 18 firefighters and accept the grant funding if awarded," Hayes said.
Hayes said the division has added five full-time firefighters over the past four years but still experiences gaps that leave apparatus and departments short of trained responders. He said the grant would allow the county to place additional full-time staff in specific stations identified by response statistics the division is preparing.
Fiscal impacts presented to commissioners showed a county share in year one of $760,582.90 (with an anticipated hire date of Oct. 1), escalating in future years as federal cost-share declines; staff also cited an eventual fully county-funded year of about $2.2 million. County staff clarified that the fiscal year 2026 budget already includes funding to convert or hire nine additional firefighters; if the SAFER grant is not awarded, the county will still fund nine positions.
Hayes said the grant narrative must meet FEMA’s expectations (including staffing multiples of 12 to staff a station 24/7). He noted letters of support: seven fire departments staffed with part-time personnel have requested full-time staff and two departments with current full-time staffing asked for additional positions.
Commissioners voted to authorize the application and to accept award if granted; the motion carried with all commissioners saying "aye."
