LYNN – The Lynn Fire Department has received a federal grant totaling $1.4 million with the goal of hiring 10 new firefighters, improving operations and safety, filling training needs and equipment requirements.While the department has applied numerous times in the past for the funding, this is the first time the money has been granted to Lynn, according to Deputy Fire Chief James McDonald. He said details are still being hammered out, but stressed that the grant has been issued with very good timing.”It’s an absolute help to lower the average age of our firefighters and to get a little more energy and younger employees on board,” he said. “Today’s a pretty exciting day for the department, but I don’t want to get too elated until I see everything (laid out).”Those hired will be fully funded with benefits for two years under the grant, with a stipulation that they remain on board for an additional year after the grant expires.”If we hire 10 firefighters, two years from now, 10 will have retired, so effectively, the budget won’t change, or if it does, it will be minimal,” he said. “We already have six or eight who are retiring in the next two months, so it’s like a tug of war sometimes, where you’re right back to where you started.”The funding, awarded by both the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants, will pay for new equipment and safety gear, as well as help fund programming to increase the number of trained, “front line” firefighters working in communities.”This money comes just in time for fire departments across Massachusetts,” said U.S. Sen. John Kerry. “Firefighters put their lives on the line every day and they need the resources to respond every time that alarm bell rings.”U.S. Rep. John Tierney said, as the economy continues to recover, he is pleased the Lynn Fire Department will be able to hire additional firefighters to keep the city safe.”This federal funding will prevent the department from having to permanently deactivate either an engine or ladder company and will improve our first responders’ ability to safely and adequately perform their jobs,” he said.Aside from Lynn, the Fitchburg department also received the SAFER grant, while Arlington and East Bridgewater departments received AFG funding.McDonald said, on top of the grant, the department is also currently in the process of hiring an additional 10 firefighters with money saved from last year’s level-funded budget.