This is the first time since 1997 that the fire department has been able to increase its staff, said Riverside Fire Chief Dan Stitzel.
The SAFER grant allows the fire department to hire three full-time firefighters for three years.
“This is a step in the right direction that we’re hoping to go to for the fire department,” Stitzel said.
MORE: Riverside will hire 3 more firefighters with SAFER grant
Megan Massie, Sam Stein and Ross Gaby were hired via the SAFER grant. Geoffrey Brogan was also hired on full-time to replace a vacancy the fire department already had.
The grant brings in $214,000 for the firefighters’ wages and benefits over the next two years. The third year the grant will bring in about $100,000. The SAFER grant covers 75% of the salary of the new firefighters in the first two years and 35% of their salaries in the third year.
After the third year, the city is not obligated to keep the three new positions.
“We’ve been struggling for years with full-time firefighters,” Stitzel said. “This is certainly a shot in the arm for us.”
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