Montgomery Fire receives $3.5 million federal grant to hire more firefighters

Montgomery Advertiser (AL)

Sept. 12--The federal government has lent a hand in Montgomery Fire/Rescue's annual staffing shortages and overtime issues.

The city learned this week that it has been chosen to receive $3.5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency over the next three years to help fill 33 MFR positions. The grant, officials say, will help tackle overtime issues within the department and bring employments levels near their target goal.

"Not all firefighters certainly enjoy working overtime, or double shifts, and there will always be overtime," said Montgomery Public Safety Director Ronald Sams. "But what we hope to do is slow down back-to-back assignments."

With the new cost-sharing grant, Montgomery will put forward about $2 million over three years to match the $3.5 million put forth by FEMA. It will cost about $480,000 the first year, said MFR Chief of Staff John Petrey, which is expected to be covered by the savings from reduced overtime.

The first firefighter class boosted by the grant is expected to start in February.

In the first two years, the city will pay for 25 percent of the associated costs, according to FEMA, with that cost increasing to 65 percent in year three. Martha Earnhardt, spokeswoman for public safety, said that new employees are paid about $38,000 a year.

The Montgomery Advertiser sat with officials earlier this month about overtime levels, but Sams said the city held off on talking about the grant because it had yet to be awarded. The city learned about the award earlier this week, he said, though the city had put aside money for the possibility of the grant.

FEMA rules require that the department hire new employees for the spots within 180 days of the award, which began Aug. 24.

The grant and new classes planned for the force will bring the department's staff level to 448. That would be the highest it has been in recent years and would inch the city closer to its goal of 480 firefighters.

The application process began earlier this year, Petrey said.

"Your application consists of historical data based upon run volume, staffing and your budget. And one of the items they look at in your budget, of course, is your overtime," he said. "So how can the administration of this grant help you to overcome that obstacle of overtime that prevents you from running academy classes and maintaining staffing at the same time?"

The city and public safety officials often tout their top Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating and quick response times. But to maintain those accolades, the city has had to log heavy overtime hours, which surpassed budgeted amounts by $2 million last year.

Public safety officials were clearly excited about the opportunity that the grant provides, and thanked Alabama's federal lawmakers, specifically Sen. Richard Shelby, for their help.

"The additional 33 firefighters provided by this grant will help us meet the increasing demand for suppression and emergency medical services. Sen. Shelby's support for this grant award speaks to his abiding commitment to the public's safety and his unflagging work on behalf of our city and state," Mayor Todd Strange said in a press release emailed Tuesday by Shelby's team.

Shelby also said in the release that the grant will play an important role in "stabilizing" operations and administration in MFR.

"The funding will ensure the city has the proper resources and staff to adequately respond to emergency medical, fire, and rescue incidents throughout the area. I am proud that FEMA has awarded this SAFER grant to facilitate increased safety and security in the city of Montgomery," he said in the release.

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