Nassau Lawmakers Pass Grant To Increase Fire Department Funds

MINEOLA, NY—The Nassau County Legislature recently passed funding for Nassau’s volunteer fire departments, in the form of the "Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response "(SAFER) grant. This FEMA grant, which totals $860,400, is expected to pass the full legislature later this month.

The SAFER grant program allows volunteer firefighters and first responders to attain 80 credit hours from Nassau Community College for free and continue their education. The program is widely used by the volunteer firefighters and first responders, and aids in their member retention and acquisition.

“The job of a volunteer firefighter is dangerous, selfless, and sometimes thankless,” Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello said. “These brave men and women risk their lives every day in service totheir community. This SAFER grant will help fire departments across the county in their recruitment efforts; ensuring that there continues to be a steady stream of young firefighters ready to serve their community, and helps young public servants pay for their education. It’s a win-win. Thank you to the men and women of our fire departments for all they do.”

In the fall of 2019 alone, over 180 volunteer firefighters made use of the program at Nassau Community College, Nassau officials said. The program is open to both full time and part time students entering Nassau Community College who are also volunteer firefighters or EMS in good standing. During the program, the student must maintain volunteer activity with the fire department, and after their study is complete, must commit to a volunteer fire department or EMS service obligation of two to five years.

According to the Nassau County legislature, local volunteer fire departments have been struggling to recruit and retain members in recent years. The SAFER Grant was created to reverse that trend, they said. Through the grant, funding is appropriated directly to the fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations in order to help them increase the number of trained front line firefighters available in their communities.

The money is then used to fund the tuition of firefighters, in order to increase their incentive for volunteering. The goal is to enhance local fire department’s abilities to comply with
staffing, response and operations standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes and standards.