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Crime & Safety

Dearborn Fire Department Receives Nearly $1M Grant

The Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded the department a $940,595 grant to be used for the hiring and retaining of firefighters.

The was awarded a Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response Grant, U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow announced Wednesday.

The $940,595 grant, awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, is to be used to aid in the hiring and retaining of fire and emergency medical service staff.

Another $54,204 was awarded to the City of Auburn Hills Fire Department to assist with operations and safety.

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Sens. Levin and Stabenow applauded the grants, which come at a time when local funding levels for city services are tight.

“Michigan’s firefighters and first responders play a critical role in keeping us safe and secure,” Levin said. “These federal dollars will help provide them with the resources they need to protect communities across Michigan.”

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“These grants will allow our hard-working firefighters to do their job to the best of their ability,” Stabenow said. “They provide an essential service to our communities and we need to ensure they have what they need to protect themselves and protect our families.”

There is no word yet on how the grant funding will affect the city of Dearborn's 2011-12 budget, which is currently being discussed by City Council and must be approved by June 30.

Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly that one area of service he didn't dip into in his proposal to lessen the city's $20 million budget deficit is fire and police staffing.

“I’m not looking at (lowering minimum staffing requirements), and the reason is, I’m a realist,” he said. “I’m not going to go out and ask people to vote to have less police officers.”

The Dearborn Fire Department also received two FEMA grants in 2010 totalling more than $140,000. That funding was used to purchase new hose and nozzles, as well as new extrication equipment.

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