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Belmont to apply for SAFER grant to add three firefighter positions
Summary
The council approved staff’s request to apply for a federal SAFER grant that would partially fund three new firefighter positions over three years; staff described phased grant funding and the city's eventual share of personnel costs if awarded.
Belmont’s fire chief asked the council to authorize an application to FEMA’s SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) program to add three frontline firefighter positions. The grant is intended to help municipal departments increase or maintain staffing to meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommendations for initial alarm assignments.
Staff outlined current department staffing (three-to-four assigned per company, typical on-duty staffing of nine–12 depending on leave and business-hour roles) and explained how mutual/automatic aid is used but may not be reliable in fully meeting NFPA recommended team sizes for structure fires. The chief said SAFER previously covered 75% of annual costs in years 1–2 and 35% in year 3 under prior awards, with the city covering the remainder; city costs would become 100% after the grant period ends.
Using midpoint salary assumptions, staff estimated a phased city cost that grows in year 3 and beyond and noted the application window is expected to open soon with a short submission window. Council approved submitting the SAFER application and directed staff to coordinate timing so that any award would be integrated into the city’s budget process and avoid supplanting existing budgeted positions.
If awarded, the positions aim to improve on-scene team size, firefighter safety, and response capability; if not awarded, staff said they will pursue alternative funding sources and continue recruitment efforts.
