Career departments aren’t the only ones that can take advantage of the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, which is accepting applications through Sept. 17. SAFER provides funds that let fire departments comply with staffing, response and operational standards established in NFPA 1710 and/or NFPA 1720 and OSHA 1910.134 by increasing their numbers of trained, frontline firefighters.

More than ever, volunteer fire departments need to apply for federal grants to stay afloat, said Geoff Maloon, a grant-writing consultant and full-time firefighter/paramedic with the Milpitas (Calif.) Fire Department. Maloon said that although many believe SAFER is built specifically for career departments, volunteers also can apply and win funds. He said there is a recruitment and retention component in the grant language and a certain amount of money is earmarked and must be spent on recruitment and retention for volunteer departments.

Maloon said currently, there are fire agencies hiring firefighters and expanding staff. This includes a full-time fire department or a volunteer department adding paid staff maybe for the first time, or adding to their current levels if it is a combination department.

“There is a wide variety of opportunities for the SAFER grant, and the funding has been increased 100% over last year by Congress for the 2010 application process,” he added.

Visit the SAFER Web site for additional information.