TULSA- The Tulsa Fire Department received a $2.7 million staffing grant to assist with its staffing shortage.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded the department the SAFER Grant, which is meant to help departments across the nation that struggle with staffing. The grant will allow the department to hire 27 new firefighters.
Tulsa Fire Department Public Information Officer Captain Stan May said the department already has a list of candidates it's interviewed.
The department expects for the hires to join the department by October. May said training will take about five months before they'll be able to hit the streets.
“I want to thank the members of Local 176 for all of their hard work in applying for and securing this funding, which will make the City of Tulsa much safer,” said President of the Tulsa Firefighters Local 176 Jim Nance.
The grant saved the department from having a shortage of about 50 by the end of the year. The next time the city can staff a class on its own will be in January.
The grant supports the class for two years. A stipulation of the grant is the city must find a way to pay them after that.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
