Saugus Fire Department receives $1.2M federal grant

SAUGUS – The Saugus Fire Department is set to receive a $1.2 million grant to hire eight firefighters.Chief Don McQuaid said to his knowledge, it?s the first time that the department has received a staffing grant. The grant is a part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency?s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program, and will pay for the salary and benefits of the eight firefighters for two years once hired.?This is the best Christmas present ever,” said McQuaid on Friday.McQuaid said the grant will bring his department up to 52 firefighters, which will make for a safer environment during structure fires because there will be more firefighters operating the apparatus and a more efficient hose and line operation. It will also bring Saugus to the National Fire Protection Association standard for how many firefighters who should be on the scene of a fire within a certain amount of time once mutual aid is factored in, the chief said.?The safer it is for us, the safer it is for the town,” said McQuaid. “It?s a win-win.”McQuaid said once he has the final word he will be hiring the eight from the civil service list, which will make for a younger department. McQuaid said currently he has a mix of younger firefighters and older veterans who may be retiring in a few years, with a department size of 44.The grant will only pay for the first two years of the hires. After that, the town is on its own in affording the eight. Town Manager Scott Crabtree said in October when the town applied for the grant that his plan was to budget and appropriate funds to keep them on the department.?Hopefully we will be able to retain them,” said McQuaidIn a release announcing the grant Thursday, Congressman John F. Tierney, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Edward Markey all voiced their commitment to the grants that aid public safety in towns like Saugus.?As local communities across the district face tough budgetary decisions, federal SAFER grants help to keep our local fire stations open and adequately staffed,” said Tierney.?Strengthening our fire departments and first responder resources are public service priorities, and I applaud Chief McQuaid, Congressman Tierney and local officials for their leadership securing this vital funding,” said Markey.?This critical grant will help make sure Saugus has the resources it needs so our hardworking firefighters can do their jobs and keep our families safe,” said Warren.