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Horry County moves to apply for $14.2 million SAFER grant to fund 36 firefighters over three years
Summary
Council authorized Horry County Fire Rescue to apply for the FEMA 2024 SAFER grant, with staff citing a revised total request of $14,223,272.71 to cover three years of personnel costs for 36 firefighters and noting federal/local cost-share changes.
Council authorized staff to submit and accept, if awarded, a FEMA SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant application intended to hire 36 firefighters over a three-year period.
Beth Tranner presented the resolution on behalf of Chief Tanner and explained the grant details and budget adjustments. Tranner said the updated total amount in the packet was $14,223,272.71 and described how FEMA has returned to pre-COVID cost rules (first-year federal share of 75%, lower percentages in later years) and that the grant will not cover turnout gear or certain medical costs. She noted staff added a 0.25-year estimate to show steady-state county costs after the grant period.
Tranner said the application is due July 3 and that, if funded, the hires would allow staffing of a ladder at Station 20 (Scipio) and an engine for a new Station 31 at Prestwick. A council member moved to proceed with staff’s recommendation, and the motion passed by voice vote.
The resolution authorizes application and acceptance; it does not commit county funds beyond required local matching or long-term staffing budget obligations if the grant is later awarded. The motion recorded no roll-call tally in the transcript; council members approved the measure by unanimous voice vote at the meeting.
