South Bend, Ind. — Today, Congressman Joe Donnelly announced that the South Bend Fire Department has received a $310,168 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to quickly hire three new, full-time firefighters.  The grant is part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program.

“With this grant, the South Bend Fire Department will be able to put three more brave firefighters to work protecting the community,” said Donnelly.  “I am pleased to announce this investment because it will make our neighborhoods safer places to live while creating three additional jobs in our area.  I congratulate the South Bend Fire Department on their successful grant application and thank all first responders in north central Indiana for their service.”

South Bend Fire Department Chief Howard Buchanon said, “With this SAFER grant, the South Bend Fire Department will be able to hire three additional firefighters that will then allow our department to assign additional staffing to another one of our fire trucks so that the truck will never respond to an emergency with less than four firefighters.  It will be safer for both the firefighters and the public by adding additional manpower to our department’s staffing.”

The SAFER grant program provides funding directly to volunteer, combination, and career fire departments to help these departments increase the number of frontline firefighters and rehire firefighters who were laid-off due to the economy.  SAFER grants directly fund fire departments to help them increase the number of trained, "front line" firefighters available in their communities.  The goal of SAFER grants is to enhance local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response, and operational standards.  This grant will allow the South Bend Fire Department to hire three new, full-time firefighters for three years.

###