Ashland Fire & Rescue secured City Council approval Jan. 18 to apply for a $2.9 million grant to fund six firefighter positions for three years.
In December, the Federal Emergency Management Agency notified AFR of a window to apply for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program, which requires staffing numbers to remain consistent for the three years of funding, according to Ashland fire Chief Ralph Sartain.
The fire department’s latest Insurance Services Office rating dropped 50% for inadequate staff — an issue further supported by the results of the ambulance service analysis, Sartain said.
According to the analysis by Public Consulting Group, low staffing reduces firefighter safety and increases hazard mitigation time and the potential for civilian casualties.