WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced the Scituate Fire and Rescue Engineering Board (SFREB) will receive $1.56 million in federal funding to help recruit and retain firefighters. This direct federal assistance, provided through the competitive Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, will help four local fire departments -- (Hope-Jackson, Potterville, Chopmist Hill, and North Scituate) increase staffing of frontline firefighters.

"Our firefighters do outstanding work. Fire departments have been hit hard by tough economic times and budget cuts and we need to ensure they are adequately staffed and equipped to respond to emergencies. This federal funding will help local fire departments hire more firefighters and improve their emergency response capabilities," said Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee who helped secure SAFER grant funding in the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill. "It is crucial for our fire departments to attain and maintain 24-hour protection of the public. This funding will help Scituate and the surrounding communities reach that goal."

"I am very excited to learn of the grant award for the Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighter/EMT's. In my many years as a Chief of a volunteer fire and rescue department this has been the largest hurdle to overcome and affects service to our citizens. With this grant we will be able to broaden and streamline our recruiting efforts and enhance service to our citizens," said Hope-Jackson Fire Chief Donald Campbell. "This grant will help reward our current long-time volunteers and our new recruits by giving them an incentive to continue their service and for new people to begin service. Through new advertising and media we will spread the word to boost our recruitment and help other fire/rescue departments in the tri-state area with their recruiting efforts as well. On behalf of the Scituate fire companies, our citizens, and town leaders I would like to thank Senator Reed and his staff for their help in securing this award."

The Scituate Fire and Rescue Engineering Board (SFREB), currently has a total of just over 100 volunteers, but needs approximately 190 volunteers to effectively respond to the 1,750 fire and emergency service calls they receive each year, which include structure fires, wildland fires, medical emergencies, hazardous materials spills, and other emergencies. The four volunteer fire departments serving this community protect an area that includes the Rhode Island State Police headquarters and the statewide 911 facility.

The recruitment and retention of additional volunteer firefighters will help protect thousands of citizens and reduce the demand placed on the current volunteer firefighters. An increase in volunteer firefighters will also support operational needs, providing adequate staffing to operate safely and effectively, and ensure timely emergency response capabilities.

The Scituate Fire and Rescue Engineering Board will use a portion of the competitive award to hire a designated staff person to focus on recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.

SAFER funding is a competitive grant program that is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

Each year, Senator Reed holds as annual fire grant workshop to help fire departments across the state apply for competitive federal assistance.

"Being a volunteer firefighter is an important and demanding job. In the current economic climate, it is difficult to recruit and retain good volunteers to perform this work and this grant will go a long way to increase staffing of Scituate's fire and rescue companies, plus departments state wide and regionally," concluded Reed.