WASHINGTON, D.C. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced Great Falls Fire Rescue has been awarded $1,734,080 from the Department of Homeland Security to increase department staffing levels. 

“As Great Falls grows, the fire department has had to respond to an increasing number of fire and emergency calls,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Congressional Fire Caucus.  “This money will fund additional firefighters and provide necessary assets for the fire department to protect and serve the community.”

The grant was awarded through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program, which was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighting organizations to help increase the number of trained firefighters available to communities.  Since 2005, the SAFER program has awarded more than $5.4 million to departments in Montana.

“This is good news for Great Falls, and will lead to the hiring of 16 new fire personnel, increasing the number of firefighters per shift by four,” said Assistant Fire Chief of Operations, Steve Hester.  “We’ll be able to create a whole new engine company that will help us deal with the increase in call volume, and better serve our community,” he said.

“It’s critical we ensure our nation’s first responders have the tools and manpower they need to ensure the safety of our communities,” Rehberg said.  “We must continue to invest in those who put their lives on the line to protect us.”