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The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service will be able to hire 10 new firefighters following the award of a grant for $1,452,842 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“MCFRS provides innovative, high-quality community service,” said County Executive Ike Leggett in a press release announcing the grants. “They ensure the highest value for tax dollars through fire-prevention, safety, education, and training to create safe streets and secure neighborhoods. These grants will expand the capabilities tax funding has supported and to provide exemplary service to which we have grown accustomed.”
This grant will enable MCFRS to reach its goal of having four people to staff each of the 35 paramedic engine companies.
The county also won a grant of $530,000 to help the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Rescue Association with volunteer recruitment and tuition assistance.
The grant also provides support for the high school cadet program, a partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools to recruit, train and immerse students in the MCFRS volunteer system.
The two grants are provided through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program.
The county also won two grants through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant:
- Approximately $135,000 was awarded for the purchase of a mobile “flashover” simulator, which enables MCFRS to conduct actual fire training exercises with recruits and firefighters in a safe, controlled and training environment.
- More than $110,000 for operations and safety to support the purchase of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and the deployment of personnel to provide staffing to MCFRS Home Safety Check program and senior-based outreach initiatives and smoke alarm installations.
The four grants total more than $2.2 million.
MCFRS responds to more than 120,000 incidents per year from its 37 fire and rescue stations that can mobilize more than 2,700 career employees and volunteers.