Recipients are eligible to direct these funds toward increasing staffing and deployment capabilities to respond to emergencies.
MVFD, which provides fire and emergency medical services to Miamisburg and Miami Twp., is in Turner’s district. It covers more than 30 square miles in Miamisburg and Miami Twp., serving approximately 80,000 people, including 50,000 residents.
MVFD’s board met Thursday to discuss the grant, which has a 30-day acceptance window, and unanimously voted to accept it. ire Chief Brandon Barnett said that will give the fire district funding for three years of salaries and benefits for 9 entry-level personnel and bring it to 81 staffers.
“This is obviously ... very helpful,” he told Dayton Daily News Thursday. “It increases our daily staffing, which increases safety for the citizens of Miamisburg, Miami Twp. and the surrounding communities.”
Residents of both communities in November approved a permanent, 11-mill property tax levy, Miami Valley Fire District. Increase revenue from that levy will help MVFD upgrade its outdated facilities and aging apparatus and equipment, officials previously said.
SAFER Program awards are administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Fire Administration. The grants are used to provide direct funding to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to enhance the departments’ abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards, according to Turner’s office.
“The Miami Valley Fire District employs many of Ohio’s hardest-working firefighters, and I am glad that they have received such a significant boost in federal funding through the SAFER Program,” Turner said in a release. “This grant will enable the department to maintain its high standard of excellence by hiring more first responders, who will undoubtedly make our community safer.”
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