Arizona fire departments are now able to increase the number of trained firefighters in communities through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program. U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona announced the grant program has opened for Arizona fire departments. The SAFER grant program assists fire departments with staffing and deployment capabilities for emergency responses in addition to enabling departments to recruit and retain volunteer and career firefighters to maintain 24-hour staffing. “Our first responders are critical to our state, especially during this pandemic,” Kelly told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Friday. “The SAFER grant program provides Arizona fire departments with funding that will help them continue to keep Arizona families and communities safe.”