The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program is a crucial federal initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Purpose of the SAFER Program:

Its primary objective is to help local fire departments increase and maintain adequate staffing levels. This is achieved by providing direct financial assistance to fire departments for two main purposes:

1. Hiring new Firefighters: This helps departments increase their operational capacity and meet growing community demands. 
2. Recruiting and Retaining Volunteer Firefighters: This supports departments that rely on a volunteer or combination staffing model which does not apply to Schertz Fire Department. 

Why is this important:

• Enhancing Public Safety: Adequate staffing directly translates to faster response times, more effective incident management (Fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, wildfire operations, fire prevention, and emergency management), and ultimately, better protection for the lives and property of our residents.
• Ensuring Firefighter Safety: Properly staffed teams allow for safer operations, reducing the risk of injury or fatality to our firefighters, who are our most valuable assets. 
• Community Resilience: A well-staffed fire department is a cornerstone of a resilient community, capable of effectively responding to daily emergencies and large-scale disasters. 
• Fiscal Responsibility: The SAFER grant offers a significant opportunity to enhance our Fire Department's capabilities using federal funds, thereby reducing the direct financial burden on local taxpayers while still achieving critical public safety goals. It allows us to address staffing needs that might otherwise be challenging to fund solely through municipal budgets. 
• Meeting Growing Demands: As our community grows and develops, the demands on our emergency services increase. SAFER funding helps us keep pace with this growth and maintain high service delivery standards. 
• National Recognition / Best Practices: Applying for and potentially receiving a SAFER grant demonstrates our commitment to national best practices in emergency management and public safety. 

In essence, the SAFER program is a vital federal resource that directly supports our local efforts to maintain a robust, safe, and effective fire and emergency response capability for our citizens. 

The overarching goal of the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program is to enhance the ability of local fire departments to protect their communities from fire and fire-related hazards by increasing or maintaining the number of trained "front-line" Firefighters. 

More specifically, the SAFER program aims to:

1. Help communities meet industry minimum staffing standards: This often refers to standards set by organizations like the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), such as NFPA 1710 (for career fire departments), which provide guidelines for effective staffing, response, and operational capabilties. 
2. Attain 24-hour staffing: For many departments, SAFER funding helps ensure that there are enough personnel on duty around the clock to provide adequate protection and rapid response. 
3. Improve emergency response capabilities: By increasing the number of Firefighters, departments can more effectively and safely respond to a wider range of emergencies, including fires, medical calls, hazardous materials incidents, and technical rescues. 
4. Support Firefighters health and safety: Adequate staffing levels contribute to safer incident scenes by ensuring enough personnel for critical tasks and reducing the burden on individual Firefighters, thereby mitigating risks of injury or burnout. 
5. Enhance the recruitment and retention of Firefighters: A significant portion of SAFER funds are specifically dedicated to developing and implementing programs that attract new personnel and keep existing ones. 

The SAFER Grant Program provides significant and measurable benefits directly to communities by enhancing the capabilities and effectiveness of their local fire departments. These benefits cascade down to individual citizens, leading to improved safety, protection, and overall well-being. 

Here are the key community benefits of the SAFER Grant Program:

1. Improved Emergency Response Times and Capabilities:
   • Faster Response: Increased staffing levels, a primary goal of SAFER, directly lead to quicker response times for all types of emergencies, including fires, medical calls, and other incidents. This is crucial as every second counts in an emergency. 
   • Adequate On-Scene Personnel: More Firefighters means more hands on deck immediately at an incident scene. This ensures that the department can meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) staffing standards (NFPA 1710 for career departments), allowing for safer and more effective operations (e.g., rapid fire attack, simultaneous search and rescue, and efficient patient care). 
   • Enhanced Operational Efficiency: With sufficient personnel, department can deploy resources more strategically and perform complex tasks more efficiently, leading to better outcomes. 
2. Increased Safety and Protection for Residents and Property:
   • Reduced Casualties and Injuries: Faster and more effective responses can significantly reduce the loss of life and injuries to civilians during emergencies. 
   • Minimized Property Damage: Prompt and robust fire suppression efforts can limit the spread of fires, saving homes, businesses, and other valuable property from extensive damage. 
   • Comprehensive Hazard Mitigation: Improved staffing means departments are better equipped to handle a broader range of hazards, from structure fires to hazardous materials incidents and technical rescues, protecting the community from diverse threats.
3. Fiscal Stability and Responsible Resource Management:
   • Reduced Burden on Local Taxpayers: SAFER grants provide federal funds that can covera significant portion of Firefighter salaries and benefits, preventing the need for our city to solely bear these costs. This is particularly beneficial for communities facing economic constraints or rapid growth. 
   • Cost Savings in Overtime and Mutual Aid: Adequate staffing can reduce reliance on costly overtime hours for existing personnel and decrease the need for mutual aid from neighboring departments, thereby saving municipal funds. 
   • Strategic Investment: The grants enable communities to make critical investments in their public safety in their public safety infrastructure without immediate, full impact on local budgets, allowing for better long-term financial planning. 
4. Strengthened Community Engagement and Resilience:
   • Enhanced Recruitment and Retention: SAFER funds enable robust recruitment campaigns and retention incentives (e.g., training opportunities, small stipends, physical exams). This strengthens the department, which is vital for many communities. 
   • Improved Community Well-Being: A strong, visible, and responsive fire department builds public trust and confidence, contributing to a sense of security and overall community well-being. 
   • Greater Training and Readiness: SAFER funding can support advanced training opportunities for Firefighters, ensuring they have the most up-to-date skills and confidence to execute safer and more effective emergency operations. 

The SAFER program directly translates federal investment into tangible local benefits, making communities safer, more secure, and more resilient in the face of emergencies. 

City staff recommends the City Manager be authorized to submit for and accept if awarded the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

The total financial impact of this reimbursement grant is $1,979,647.20 over a 3-year period covering the new hire of firefighter salaries and fringe benefits with a projected cost savings of $1,220,782.43, which is the cost share of the federal government, leaving the city share to be $758,864.77 over this 3-year period. 

Grant Total: $1,979,647.20

• Federal Resources - $1,220,782.43
• City Resources - $758,864.77

Grant Period: 3 years

Number of Positions Funded: 6

Percentage of Salary / Benefits Covered by Grant:

• Year 1 - 75% (Federal Share) - $494,911.80 and 25% (City Share) - $164,970.60
• Year 2 - 75% (Federal Share) - $494,911.80 and 25% (City Share) - $164,970.60
• Year 3 - 35% (Federal Share) - $230,958.83 and 65% (City Share) - $659,882.40

After the performance period of the grant, the city would then assume 100% of the salary and benefits associated with these positions.

City staff recommends the City Manager by authorized to submit for and accept if awarded the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).