The Lincolnton Fire Department announced Wednesday (September 19th) that it will receive a federal grant for $244,457. The Lincolnton Fire Department is one of 384 fire departments nationwide to receive a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA).
SAFER Grants were created to provide funding assistance directly to fire departments and volunteer fire departments to increase the number of trained front line firefighters available in their communities. FEMA says the goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). “This grant will fill the gap in our department budget and get us to where we need to be with full-time staffing," said Lincolnton Fire Chief Ryan Heavner. "As Lincolnton continues to grow, so must we as emergency service personnel. This ensures the very best service is provided to our citizens."