FORT MILL, S.C. — The Town of Fort Mill will soon be able to hire 15 new firefighters, thanks to a $4,223,398 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant will cover salaries and benefits for the firefighters for the next three years, beginning in March 2025. The SAFER grant will also allow the town to staff a third fire station.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support from FEMA, and for Fort Mill Town Council’s willingness to apply for this competitive grant,” Fort Mill Fire Chief Chipper Wilkerson said. “More firefighters mean quicker response times, better safety for our community, and improved working conditions for our staff.”
Chief Wilkerson said the department is one of 191 departments nationwide and one of six in South Carolina that received grant funding. FEMA awarded a combined $360 million in SAFER grants.
The SAFER program provides funding directly to fire departments to help increase the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry minimum standards, attain 24-hour staffing, and to fulfill traditional missions of fire departments, according to FEMA.
"This grant allows our Fire Department to expand upon the excellent standards that they set daily in protecting and helping the residents of Fort Mill,” Fort Mill Mayor Guynn Savage said. “We are very proud of their achievement and welcome this recognition of their success.”