Salisbury council accepts more than $1 million from S.A.F.E.R grant for fire department

SALISBURY, Md. – At Monday’s Salisbury city council meeting, members of the council unanimously voted to accept more than $1 million in funding to hire more fire fighters for the city’s fire department. The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant also known as the S.A.F.ER grant from the Department of Homeland Security will pay for 75% of the salary and benefits for each of the additional firefighters in the first and second year of the grant, and 35% of salary and benefits for the third year. Council president, Jack Heath, says since the vote, the process to begin hiring more firefighters will begin soon. He adds that this grant will create faster response times for the department while also ensuring enhanced safety for the residents of Salisbury.