By KWGS News
Tulsa, Ok – Mayor Dewey Bartlett has announced that the Tulsa Fire Department has been awarded a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER, grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The $4,238,856 grant will be used to hire 46 new firefighters to replace those lost through attrition in the past few years.
The City of Tulsa received confirmation of the award today from both Senator Jim Inhofe's office and from Congressman John Sullivan's office.
"The administration and the leadership of the Tulsa Fire Department applied for this grant in 2010 to help keep our fire protection public safety at its highest possible level," Mayor Bartlett said. "Given the effects of the recession on our ability to maintain the superior fire protection services offered by the Tulsa Fire Department, I believe applying for this grant was in Tulsa's best interest. Our request has been granted, thanks to help from Congressman John Sullivan and Senator Jim Inhofe."
"I am pleased to announce that FEMA has awarded much needed federal grant funding to the Tulsa Fire Department to assist with the recruitment and training of our first responders," Congressman Sullivan said. "I am thrilled to learn that this grant will be used to create 46 new jobs for Tulsa firefighters. I would like to thank the men and women of the Tulsa Fire Department for their hard work and tireless dedication in protecting our community, and I am proud we were able to secure these funds to help increase the strength and capability of our fire emergency response team."
The two-year grant program provides wages for the firefighters, and the City is to provide training and equipment for them. This training will occur within the next 90 days. After two years, the City will not be required to retain the firefighters if the local economic conditions do not allow.
"Increasing the manning levels of our fire department has a multiplier of good effects on our community," said Mayor Bartlett. "It allows us to send a greater number of firefighters to respond to emergencies and keep the response time as short as possible. It also allows us to continue with public safety education and help keep homeowners' property insurance costs stable. Public safety continues to be a top priority of mine and this is good news for Tulsa."