Federal Grant to Hire More Anchorage Firefighters
Craig Talbert | FLICKR
A nearly $10 million federal grant lets the Municipality of Anchorage hire eighteen new firefighters and covers their pay for three years.
A SAFER City
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program was a response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, to help fire departments acquire and maintain staffing.
The Municipality of Anchorage has been awarded $9,805,896 for new personnel, who will be assigned evenly to Anchorage Fire Department’s three shifts. The new hires will be placed with units specializing in rescue and labor-intensive firefighting tasks.
“This SAFER grant from FEMA will enable Anchorage firefighters to respond to emergencies more efficiently, thereby utilizing fewer response vehicles and providing for improved outcomes in terms of lives and property saved while reducing risk to our personnel and the public,” says Anchorage Fire Chief Douglas Schrage.
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January 2026
The federal grant requires no matching funds from the municipality.
“The Anchorage Fire Department has taken a large step towards the industry standard for staffing with the acceptance of the SAFER grant,” says Nick Glorioso, president of the Anchorage Firefighters Union. “Anchorage is now a better protected place to live, and the brave men and women of the fire department are better equipped to handle the emergency response needs of this community.”
Glorioso credits the administration of Mayor Dave Bronson with demonstrating a commitment to public safety by accepting the grant.
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