Staffing for adequate fire and emergency response (SAFER)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded Citizen Hose Co 1 a grant of $306,220.00 under the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program (CFDA 97.083) on December 19, 2025. The award, with a completion date of December 18, 2029, will support firefighter hiring and volunteer recruitment and retention initiatives for the Glassport, Pennsylvania-based volunteer fire department. The SAFER program provides direct federal funding to eligible fire departments and emergency response organizations to help communities meet industry minimum staffing standards and maintain adequate 24-hour staffing capabilities to protect residents from fire and fire-related hazards.

As a tax-exempt, nonprofit volunteer fire department, Citizen Hose Co 1 will utilize this federal funding to strengthen its operational staffing levels and enhance its ability to sustain and expand its volunteer workforce. This award represents the organization's continued success in accessing federal resources through FEMA's merit-based competitive grant process, which evaluates applications on criteria including project description, financial need, impact on daily operations, and cost-benefit analysis. The four-year project period enables the fire department to implement comprehensive staffing strategies that support its critical public safety mission in the Glassport community.