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Broken Arrow Receives $1.5M Federal Grant to Hire Firefighters

Broken Arrow is looking for 11 new firefighters.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced its Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER, grants for 2015. Broken Arrow is receiving nearly $1.5 million, enough to cover salaries and benefits for 11 new firefighters for two years.

"This is going to help us to be able to really cut down on having to have firefighters work overtime shifts or extra shifts. We're going to be able to provide a greater level of service to our citizens," said Broken Arrow Fire Chief Jeremy Moore.

The city promised residents 20 new firefighters through the recent Vision sales tax renewal.

"We added nine firefighters with the 2014 SAFER grant and 11 firefighters with this 2015 SAFER grant, so we're able to deliver on our promise to the citizens about three years earlier than we thought," Moore said.

When the SAFER grants expire, Vision sales tax revenue will cover the firefighters' salaries and benefits.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.