WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced that she secured over $8 million in federal funding for Nevada’s firefighters through the Fire Grants and Safety Act that she helped pass into law last year. In 2023, she called on Congress to pass this law alongside Las Vegas Fire and Rescue. This bipartisan law reauthorized the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program, to provide funding for fire departments to improve emergency response and increase the number of “front line” firefighters.
“Our brave firefighters put their lives on the line for our communities every single day,” dijo el Senador Rosen. “I’m proud to have helped secure federal funding to provide Nevada firefighters with the resources they need. I’ll continue working across party lines in the Senate to make sure our state has what it needs to keep our communities safe.”
“Las Vegas Fire & Rescue is incredibly grateful for this SAFER grant and Senator Rosen’s ongoing support for public safety funding in Las Vegas,” said Las Vegas Fire Chief Fernando Gray. “The SAFER program is crucial for allowing fire departments to maintain safe staffing levels and operational readiness. This support enables Las Vegas Fire & Rescue to place additional firefighters on the front lines, thereby enhancing emergency response for the residents and visitors we serve every day.”
“We greatly appreciate the support and award for the Assistance for Firefighters Grant (AFG) to the Carson City Fire Department,” said Kevin Nyberg, Acting Carson City Fire Chief. “With these funds, we will be able to send up to eight employees to paramedic school, thereby improving Emergency Medical Services in our great Capital City. The AFG grant allows us to offer training in an efficient manner, which will have a direct impact on the lives of our community. Thank you, Senator Rosen, for your support of meeting this important need in Carson City.”
“On behalf of the Clark County Fire Department, we are honored to accept the SAFER Grant. This award represents a significant investment in the safety and well-being of our community, along with the staffing and training needed for our volunteer firefighters,” said Clark County Fire Chief Billy Samuels. “We are grateful for the continued support of FEMA, and we look forward to using these resources to advance our mission of providing optimum protection and prevention for our residents and visitors, with the highest level of valor, integrity, commitment, teamwork, and community involvement.”
A full breakdown of the funding can be found below:
- $3,757,393 for the City of Las Vegas to hire firefighters.
- $3,071,284 for the Clark County Fire Department for recruitment and retention of firefighters.
- $781,279 for the Central Lyon County Fire District to hire firefighters.
- $551,246 for the City of Carson City for operations and safety.
- $101,866 for the Carlin Volunteer Fire Department for operations and safety.
- $62,045 for the City of Mesquite for operations and safety.
Senator Rosen has been leading efforts to reduce fire risk and support Nevada’s firefighters. Earlier this year, she secured over $4 million in wildfire prevention funding for Nevada. Senator Rosen also announced that Nevada will be receiving $2.3 million in funding from the National Science Foundation for wildfire prevention research and community preparedness. She has delivered more than $27.6 million in federal funding to help prevent wildfires in Forest Service areas, including in Washoe, White Pine, Douglas, Lyon, Mineral, and Elko Counties, helping to reduce wildfire risk for communities in the region.
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