Stabenow, Peters Applaud Over $2 Million for Saginaw Fire Department

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters today applauded $2,017,145 in assistance for the Saginaw Fire Department to support the recruitment and retention of firefighters. The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program.

"Our firefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect our families, homes, and communities," said Senator Stabenow. "These resources will help the Saginaw Fire Department make sure there is always someone there to answer the call in an emergency."

"An emergency situation can arise at any time, and we must ensure that we have enough first responders on the job to protect our communities," said Senator Peters. "This funding will help the Saginaw Fire Department remain prepared to respond in an emergency and keep the community and their firefighters safe."

"We would like to thank Senators Stabenow and Peters for their continued support of the City of Saginaw and the Saginaw Fire Department," said Saginaw Fire Department Chief Christopher Van Loo. "This SAFER grant is great news for the City of Saginaw and the members of the Saginaw Fire Department. It will prevent the layoff of thirteen firefighters and allow us to continue to staff our four fire stations and provide outstanding fire protection services for the citizens of Saginaw."

The SAFER program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Management Agency (FEMA) and works to strengthen communities' ability to respond to fire and fire-related hazards and improve the nation's overall level of preparedness, including maintaining 24-hour staffing. Today's award is part of nearly $340 million in fiscal year 2014 awarded directly to fire departments and volunteer support groups to expand the number of firefighters available for emergency response.