Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) announced the City of San Bernardino has been awarded a $3.36 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  The funding was awarded as part of FEMA’s Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grants program, and will be used by the San Bernardino Fire Department to retain firefighters.

“I congratulate the City of San Bernardino for their efforts in securing this vital federal grant assistance,” said Rep. Baca.  “I was proud to lend my support to this responsible grant request.  The additional resources this grant provides are essential to ensuring local fire departments are properly staffed to protect and meet the needs of our Inland communities.”

Due to recent economic hardships, the City of San Bernardino was forced to cut 27 fire department positions in 2009.  Later in 2009, a SAFER grant was awarded to the City and provided enough funding to rehire 12 firefighters.  This new grant will ensure the San Bernardino Fire Department is able to retain these 12 positions in order to best provide for the safety of its citizens.

Rep. Baca sent a letter of support to Department of Homeland Security in March of 2012, urging FEMA to successfully award the San Bernardino Fire Department’s grant request. 

“The City of San Bernardino is the county seat for the nation’s largest geographical county,” concluded Rep. Baca.  “An adequately staffed and equipped fire department is essential to the continued well-being and public safety of area residents.  I will continue to work in Congress so that our communities in the Inland Empire have access to critical grant assistance made available by the federal government.”