Fullerton’s Fire Department has received $3.1 million in federal grant funding, allowing it to hire 12 firefighters and provide cancer screenings and additional mental health services.
Fire Chief Adam Loeser welcomed the funding, noting that budget constraints in 2018 stretched fire personnel and equipment following the cut of a staffed unit. As a result, for the last seven years, only five of six stations offered paramedics with advanced life support, requiring a nearby station’s unit to assist with advanced cases in the sixth district. The mostly residential district borders La Mirada and La Habra and has expanded over the years, which has contributed to the growing call volume, he said.
“When that happens, there’s a backfill that occurs, and you have a trickle effect that ends up potentially increasing response times to 911 emergencies. So this will really help stabilize the call volume throughout the whole city, and everybody will be able to take care of their own jurisdictions,” Loeser said.
Loeser said the application for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or S.A.F.E.R., grant had been in the works for several years, and funds from the competitive nationwide grant were awarded in late September. The more than $2.8 million grant will go toward staffing, including a sixth paramedic unit, allowing stations to use resources and specialized equipment tailored to their jurisdiction. The funding will cover positions for three years.
A ladder truck that provided basic life support for Station 6 for the last few years will be relocated to its original home, serving Downtown Fullerton’s historic area. The truck is designed for maneuvering through tight downtown streets and carries the Jaws of Life used to extract people trapped in collisions. Previous budget cuts led the department to rely more on mutual aid from surrounding agencies, such as Anaheim Fire & Rescue, Loeser said.
“We’re very proud of the effort we put into getting the grant, and it’s going to be very impactful to the city,” he added.
More than $305,000 from an Assistance to Firefighters Grant will go toward starting a new wellness program that will offer early cancer and cardiac screenings, as well as mental health services. The program is expected to kick off early next year.