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Fire department updates council on Engine 208 procurement and staffing plan; SAFER grant pending
Summary
Hearthland Fire and Rescue staff updated council on the Engine 208 project: the city procured and paid for a new engine in August, the SAFER grant award is pending, and staffing, outfitting and station modifications are in progress with a projected in‑service date in May 2025.
Hearthland Fire and Rescue staff gave the council an update on plans to place Engine 208 into service, outlining procurement, funding and staffing steps.
Senior management analyst Barbara Watkins reviewed project goals — reducing call volumes on existing units, decreasing reliance on automatic aid and staffing the new engine — and said the city has identified funding sources and has procured and paid for the engine in August. Watkins noted staffing needs remain: hiring nine firefighter‑medics is contingent on the SAFER grant award and staff will pursue additional funding and classification changes as needed.
The presentation included a tentative project timeline: a SAFER award notification was anticipated by Sept. 30 (staff noted this was not guaranteed), promotional exams in late 2024, station modification work and an expected West Coast arrival of the new engine in March with service anticipated in May.
Council members asked about service level impacts if fewer than nine firefighters are hired and about the decision to hire firefighter EMTs versus paramedics; the chief said service levels would remain paramedic‑level because other crew members are paramedics and staff would seek to train EMT hires up to paramedic level over time.
This item was received as an informational update; no formal council action was required.
