Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program
The FY 2025 SAFER Grant Program provides funding to fire departments for hiring, recruiting, and retaining firefighters to ensure adequate emergency response staffing.
Funder: Department of Homeland Security - FEMA
Due Dates: June 22, 2026: Full application deadline | June 22, 2026: System-issue notification cutoff
Funding Amounts: Approx. $324 million total program funding; award amounts vary by project/activity; Hiring Activity: up to 3 years; R&R Activity: up to 4 years.
Summary: Supports fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations to hire, recruit, and retain frontline firefighters, enhancing community preparedness and response.
Key Information: No cost share for Recruitment & Retention; cost share required for Hiring Activity.
Description
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program, administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s FEMA, provides financial assistance to help fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations increase the number of trained frontline firefighters. The program aims to help communities meet industry minimum standards, achieve 24-hour staffing, and ensure adequate protection from fire hazards. Funding is available for two main activities: Hiring of Firefighters (for career positions) and Recruitment & Retention of Volunteer Firefighters.
