Biden announces new resources for Philadelphia Fire Department

On Monday, President Joe Biden made his 19th visit to the Francisville neighborhood of Philadelphia at the Engine 13 firehouse to announce a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant.

Here you have details of the news.

Biden announces new resources for Philadelphia Fire Department

With the $22.4 million in federal funds, 72 firefighters/EMTs will be hired, trained, and paid for three years. After three years, the City of Philadelphia will then pay for the personnel expenses

“The only thing that protects firefighters is more firefighters,” Biden stated.

In September, the Philadelphia Fire Department received a $22.4 million grant from the federal government to reopen Ladder 1, Engine 6, and Ladder 11, which has been closed for 14 years due to the great recession.

The funds will help to bring resources back to Kensington, Fishtown, Fairmount, Spring Garden, and South Philadelphia. It will also reinstate Ladder 11 at 12th and Reed streets, Engine 6 at 2601 Belgrade Street, and Ladder 1 at 16th and Parrish streets.

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The nine-month academy program for the 72 newly hired fire department personnel will begin at the beginning of January. At the first call, the equipment, which includes the engine trucks and ladder, is already back and prepared for use.

The White House claims that Ladder 1 would have been the first to arrive at the scene of the worst residential fire in the city last year, which occurred in Fairmount if it had been in operation.

Biden stated, “If the company, hadn’t been decommissioned Ladder 1, it would’ve been the closest to the fire. God only knows if they would’ve been able to get there earlier and save lives,”

After that, President Biden went to a campaign event before returning to Washington.

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Last year, the President signed legislation providing $360 million each to FEMA’s SAFER program and the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.

Additionally, it raised funds for the U.S. Fire Administration, allowing it to support public awareness and messaging efforts about fire safety, expand training courses, and renovate the National Emergency Training Centre.