Staffing for adequate fire and emergency response (SAFER)

The Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association, Inc. received a $422,328 Fiscal Year 2023 Project Grant award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program (CFDA 97.083). This funding will be used between October 2023 and October 2027 to enhance staffing capacity and improve the organization's ability to respond effectively to emergencies and fire-related hazards within Montgomery County, Maryland. The SAFER grant program aims to assist local fire departments in maintaining appropriate staffing levels and deployments to safeguard communities. This award supplements previous SAFER grants totaling $1,862,328 received by the association in 2022 and 2023, which also support hiring, recruitment, and retention of firefighters to bolster emergency response operations. Additionally, the association secured a $422,328 Rail and Transit Security Grant from FEMA in 2023 to enhance staffing capacity for protecting critical transportation infrastructure in Montgomery County.