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Wichita approves grant applications for new Station 23 and firefighter health programs
Summary
The Wichita City Council authorized applications for three FEMA grants—SAFER to staff a new Station 23, AFG to expand firefighter health screenings, and a Fire Prevention & Safety grant to fund community risk-reduction positions—voting unanimously to pursue the funding and accept awards if granted.
The Wichita City Council voted unanimously to authorize the Fire Department to apply for three federal grants aimed at expanding staffing and health services for firefighters.
Fire Chief Tammy Snow told the council the department is seeking approximately $3,050,000 through the SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) program to staff the planned Station 23 at Pawnee and Mays Road. The request covers funding to hire 14 personnel — a four-person engine company plus two additional positions to cover leave — and Chief Snow said the city's local match would phase in over the grant term and was estimated in the presentation at roughly $1.95 million. "If awarded, we'd have 180 days to hire the personnel and would start drawing grant funds once personnel are on payroll," Snow said.
The council also approved applying for a $2,000,000 Assistant to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to fund comprehensive firefighter health screenings and wellness programs. Chief Snow said a 2024 pilot of the health-screening program uncovered a high rate of previously undetected conditions among participants, including early-stage cancers and other issues. "The screenings literally saved lives," she said, urging the council to approve the application.
Separately, the department requested authorization to apply for up to $514,998 under the Fire Prevention and Safety program to backfill three lieutenant positions moved into community risk reduction for a year and to bolster inspections and prevention work. The grant carries a 5% local match ($24,524) the chief said.
Mayor Wu and other council members pressed staff on budget contingencies if the grants are not awarded, and City Manager Marstall said staff would consider general-fund backstops and discuss that again during upcoming budget workshops. Public commenter Doug Ballard, a former firefighter, urged the council to support four-person engine companies for safety reasons.
Council action: motions to authorize submission and accept awards if granted were made from the bench and passed unanimously for the SAFER, AFG and Fire Prevention grant items. The SAFER application authorization appears alongside staff estimates that Station 23 construction costs are about $5.17 million and that annual operating costs for the new station are roughly $76,000.
The council recorded the formal SAFER vote as passing 7-0. Further budgeting and staffing decisions will depend on grant outcomes and the city's FY planning timelines.
