Portland Fire & Rescue announced Wednesday that they received a $2.1 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The money will go entirely to Fire Station 23 near Southeast 13th and Powell Boulevard. The station closed back in 2010 then later reopened in 2017 with just a two-person crew for medical calls. “Honestly I was shocked, amazed and excited,” said fire fighter Isaac McLennen, who’s also president of the Portland Fire Fighters’ Association. McLennen said he pushed for the city to apply for the grant in January.
“Station 23 has been without a four-person fire engine and we've been fighting this for the past five years,” he said.