The Bloomington Fire Department is set to expand, having secured a hefty federal grant to bolster its ranks. According to the City of Bloomington, the department received a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) back in September. This award marks the second installment of its kind for the department, funding 18 new full-time firefighter positions for the next three years.
In anticipation of the increased demand for emergency services, Deputy Chief Jay Forster saw the addition of 18 firefighters as a means of enhancing the overall capability of the force. "The additional staffing will improve our response times and ensure that we can meet the growing needs of Bloomington residents," Forster said, as stated by the City of Bloomington, with the recruits scheduled to start their duties on April 1, 2025.
Local citizens interested in learning more about the specifics of the SAFER grant and the kind of support it provides can find detailed information on FEMA's website, as per the City of Bloomington.
