The badly understaffed Hartford Fire Department received some good news Thursday in the form of an $11 million federal grant. The grant will be used to hire 70 new firefighters over the next three years and help the department offset a 110 member shortage and an ongoing exodus of more than 60 experienced firefighters by the end of the year. "I wanted to look you in the eyes and tell you help is on the way," Hartford Fire Chief Reginald Freedom told a group of firefighters who had joined him at the city's public safety complex to celebrate the good news. "This grant of 70 firefighters will help us replenish our ranks."