Rockingham County Fire and Rescue is working to hire nine new career firefighters. The additional positions were made possible by a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (also known as "SAFER") grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The more than $900, 000 grant will fund the new firefighters for two years, which means taxpayers won't pay for them right now. Rockingham County Fire and Rescue Chief Jeremy Holloway credited county administration for pushing the grant through to make the new staffing possible. Three of the new firefighters will be added to the Bridgewater Fire Station. This equates to a full shift for the station. The remaining six firefighters will fill two shifts at Hose Company 4 on Port Republic Road.