The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced this morning that the City of Tulsa has received a $2.7 million grant to hire 27 firefighters in the Tulsa Fire Department.
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant is a FEMA administered, Department of Homeland Security program designed to increase the number of front-line, first responders in local communities.
Attrition and funding to hire new firefighters have reduced fire staffing in Tulsa by more than 30 employees over the last two years. The SAFER grant can be used immediately to increase staffing in the Tulsa Fire Department to respond to emergencies.
“This grant comes at the perfect time for us,” said Tulsa Fire Chief Ray Driskell. “Many firefighters have been working 48-hour shifts to keep trucks in service and fire stations open while awaiting the reinforcements provided by this award.”
The SAFER grant requires funding must be used to hire employees within 90 days of being notified of the grant. The City of Tulsa is currently in the process of interviewing candidates for the upcoming fire academy.
The SAFER grant enables the Tulsa Fire Department to begin recruiting candidates for a fire academy this year that will help with attrition currently. In addition, the permanent Vision Public Safety Tax will be in place next year so an additional fire academy can be held.
“I believe the Tulsa Fire Department is one of the best departments in the country and I am very thankful Tulsa was selected for a grant that will get more boots on the ground,” Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett said. “I would like to give a special thanks to Congressman Markwayne Mullin and his staff for their support and assistance, which was instrumental in ensuring more firefighters could be hired to meet the needs of our city.”
“I’m glad to see the Tulsa Fire Department receive this grant,” Congressman Markwayne Mullin said. “The department not only provides services to more than 400,000 citizens in Tulsa, but also assists more than 20 different towns, municipalities, and companies in the surrounding area. This grant will ensure that TFD is well equipped and fully prepared to continue their work helping folks in Oklahoma’s Second Congressional District and beyond.”