Broken Arrow Awarded $1.4M From FEMA To Hire More Firefighters

The Broken Arrow Fire Department is the process of hiring additional firefighters thanks to a federal grant.

In a news release, the city says the Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded the department a $1,486,320 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response or SAFER grant. 

“The Broken Arrow Fire Department made a promise to citizens, that if they passed the Vision 2025 sales tax renewal, we would increase our staffing level by 20 firefighters. Because of this SAFER grant and the one we received last year, we're able to deliver on that promise three years earlier than anticipated,” said Fire Chief Jeremy Moore. 

The 2015 SAFER grant will provide 100 percent funding for salaries and benefits of eleven entry level firefighters for a period of two years. 

Chief Moore says the Broken Arrow Fire Department currently has156 firefighters with six positions open.  He says the hiring process is going on now with the goal to hire 17 new cadets with an expected start date of February 1, 2017.  

Eleven of the new firefighters will be funded by the SAFER grant, increasing the number of firefighters in Broken Arrow to 173. 

Moore adds with the renewal of the Vision 2025 sales tax, the Broken Arrow now has the necessary funding to retain these new firefighters when the SAFER grant expires.

Last month, the City of Tulsa announced it was awarded a SAFER grant from FEMA to hire 27 new firefighters.

8/12/2016 Related Story: Tulsa To Hire 27 New Firefighters Thanks To $2.7M FEMA Grant