Four new firefighters will join the Sudbury Fire Department, after the department received a $605,698 federal grant to add the new employees to its roster.
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be distributed over three years to cover a portion of the costs of the new firefighters’ salary and benefits. The grant will pay 75 percent of the firefighters’ salaries and benefits for the first two years, and 35 percent in the third year.
“This is an excellent opportunity for our department to enhance our staffing capabilities without a tremendous initial impact on our budget,” said Chief John Whalen in a statement. “I’m grateful for the resources and flexibility that the SAFER Grant affords us, and I’m looking forward to filling these positions and welcoming new firefighters to our team.”
In an announcement, the department said firefighters do more than just fight fires. They handle chemical and environmental emergencies, ranging from the suspected presence of carbon monoxide to a gas leak. They also might be called to rescue a child who has fallen through ice or has locked himself in a bathroom.