Spanish Fork Fire & EMS has been awarded a $2 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to an October 29 statement. The funding is intended to support the addition of 12 new firefighter positions within the department.
The grant will increase the department's full-time Fire & EMS personnel from 36 to 48. These staffing additions will allow both of the City's frontline fire engines to be staffed by four firefighters per shift, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
SFFE Chief Eddie Hales stated that leveraging these federal resources allows the department to safeguard local tax dollars while maintaining a commitment to exceptional fire protection for residents, visitors, and first responders. The SAFER grant aims to help local fire departments meet staffing, response, and operational standards set by the National Fire Protection Agency.
The department identifies staffing needs through internal reviews and peer benchmarking to evaluate community risk and response coverage. Plans are currently underway to have the new positions filled in the first quarter of 2027.
