Orange County Fire Rescue is increasing its manpower, drastically, hiring 63 new firefighters.
The county getting a $9 million grant for the additional positions.
“We were able to receive a federal grant to hire firefighters, and it’s a matching grant,” said Jerry Demings, Orange County Mayor.
“What it allows us to do is add a fourth person on our units, so that really can work to our advantage to cut down on response times, so that when a fire unit responds, they have adequate staff,” Demings said.
“They have to have four people on scene to go in if there is a true fire they are fighting, and so we don’t have to wait on a secondary unit to come now,” Demings said.
Mayor Demings says he hopes to fill the positions as soon as possible.