Grant Allows S.P. to Add Firefighters

The Fire Department could soon get three new firefighters.

Friday, April 9, 2010

A three-year federal grant could allow the Southern Pines Fire Department to hire three full-time firefighters.

The department was recently awarded a $252,552 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. The Town Council still must formally accept the grant.

The grant will cover the cost of salaries and benefits for the three new positions for the first two years of the program, leaving the town to cover those expenses during the final year.

"It will allow us to add one full-time person to each of our three shifts," Assistant Fire Chief Mike Cameron said.

Cameron said the additional hires will give the department seven firefighters on each of the three shifts and boost the total number of full-time employees to 27.

The extra personnel will allow for greater flexibility when it comes to multiple fire calls and more manpower when responding to larger fires, Cameron said.

If the grant is approved by the council, Cameron said he hopes the department will hire the new firefighters by July 1.

Currently, the department has 18 firefighters, a fire marshal, two fire investigators, a fire chief, an assistant chief and an administrative assistant.

The purpose of the grant is twofold. First, it allows departments that have lost positions because of downsizing to rehire those positions. The other is to allow departments to boost staffing levels.

SAFER grants enhance the ability of fire departments to acquire and maintain 24-hour staffing and help ensure communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. The objective of the program is to award grants directly to volunteer, combination and career fire departments to increase the number of frontline firefighters, and to rehire firefighters who have lost their jobs because of the economy.

Southern Pines will be adding staff, not replacing lost positions.

"These SAFER grants ensure that no matter what time a fire hits, there will be firefighters ready to answer the call and protect our communities," U.S. Sen. Kay R. Hagan said in a press release announcing the grants."

The other North Carolina fire departments receiving grants were Nashville ($168,868) and Havelock ($332,624).

For more information on SAFER and other FEMA administered grant programs visit www.firegrantsupport.com.

Contact Tom Embrey by e-mail at tembrey@thepilot.com.

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ASU88 2 years, 1 month ago

Why does the Asst. Chief do all of the PR work for the SPFD...where is the Chief?

Woody 2 years, 1 month ago

It is a shame that all of the volunteers were run off. Seven firefighters per shift seems excessive for Southern Pines. What will happen at the end of the three years? I guarantee these extra positions will not be eliminated. The old adage "there is no such thing as free money" seems to apply here. I hope the Town Council thinks long and hard about accepting this money.

CSmithson 2 years, 1 month ago

@Woody

The thing is, we will need to hire even MORE paid firefighters in the not too distant future. We'll need at least six FT staff for a facility we'll need soon at the north end of town in the general area of the airport. Whether we build a new substation or take another option, we'll have to staff the facility to provide the proper level of service to that area of town.

BTW, there are lots of changes going on with quite a few FD's in the county. It should be interesting for those who follow that kind of thing. Stay tuned.

mooremedic 2 years, 1 month ago

Southern Pines really does need more firefighters and unfortunately the days of relying on volunteers has come to an end.....yes you will always have some departments that can rely on volunteers, but they will always have to be supplemented by paid staff. Southern Pines is the busiest Fire Department in the County and needs the firefighters to properly staff the department. The use of a grant sounds pretty dang smart to me, allowing the town to defer the money they already know they need to spend. I do wonder why they need a Fire Marshall and two inspectors but I know nothing about the administrative side of the department.