Ohio Fire Department Gets $8M to Hire Firefighters

Cincinnati’s fire department has received more than $8 million in federal funding to hire firefighters as part of a federal program aimed at improving emergency response.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown says the funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is intended to help ensure that the Ohio city has the skilled responders and updated resources they need to do their job safely.

The funding comes through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER, program. FEMA administers the grant program in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

FEMA says grants under the SAFER program are intended to support the hiring of firefighters and the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.

Brown says such funding is even more important with so many communities facing budget shortfalls.