Alpena News: Peters proposes change to SAFER grant

Peters said as the program was set up, SAFER would help to fund a new firefighter hired by a department full-time, but did not help cover the cost of someone already employed, but not full-time. He said if the SAFER reauthorization is approved it will help to bolster fire departments in Michigan.

“I heard from fire chiefs all over the state and they were asking why they can’t bring in someone who is already in the department, trained and has experience,” Peters said. “Instead they have to bring someone totally new in who isn’t as familiar as employees they already have.”

Alpena Fire Chief Bill Forbush said although Alpena has an all full-time staff, he supports the change to SAFER, because smaller departments will greatly benefit from it. He said often part-time and volunteer firefighters are already trained and outfitted for the job. He said more importantly they want to become full-time and the amendment will made it simpler for them.

“Many times the volunteers are the farm team for the full-timers, so it is good to hire from within,” Forbush said. “These are people who you have already worked with, know what to expect from and they look forward to becoming full-time. They want to go full-time, we want them to be full-time and this can help do that.”

Peters said 70 percent of the country’s fire departments employee part-time and want to add more full-timers. He said smaller communities, like many in northern Michigan, not only will benefit from having staff on hand at the department 24 hours a day, but it will save them money.

“Rural communities don’t have the money to pay for full-time, but they are critical in protecting it and the citizens,” Peters said. “By hiring someone who has already been trained and employed in the department, it saves money because when a new person is hired, departments have to pay for training for them and that’s costly.”

In 2016 fire departments around Michigan were awarded SAFER grants totaling $33 million. The funds can be used only for staffing and not for equipment or training, Peters said.

The proposed amendment to SAFER is supported by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and awaits a vote in the full Senate. Peters said he is confident that it will pass on the floor.

“The fact that was unanimously supported in the committee and has bi-partisan support is encouraging,” he said. “The SAFER grants have always had bi-partisan support in the past and I don’t expect that to change. Everyone knows how important it is to have suitable fire protection in our communities. “