Staffing for adequate fire and emergency response (safer)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency Headquarters Financial Assistance Awards awarded Clark County Fire Dept-Admin $3.071 million on December 23, 2025, under the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program (CFDA 97.083) to hire new firefighters and support volunteer recruitment and retention. The award is obligated at $3.071 million with a period of performance through December 22, 2029, and place of performance in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The SAFER program provides direct funding to eligible recipients to help communities meet industry minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards while fulfilling traditional missions of fire departments. Selection occurs through a multi-phase, merit-based process in which applications are electronically pre-scored for alignment with program priorities established by a Criteria Development Panel of major fire service organization representatives, then peer-reviewed on project description, impact on daily operations, financial need, and cost benefit. Internal FEMA reviews assess completeness, technical feasibility, costs, eligibility, and financial integrity prior to final award.

Clark County Fire Dept-Admin is a child entity of Clark County government and serves as the primary fire and emergency response agency for the region. Recipients may apply for period-of-performance extensions within 120 days of expiration for recruitment and retention activity grants only, with extensions granted only for compelling legal, policy, or operational challenges.