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 submission deadline | June 22, 2026: Deadline to notify FEMA of system-related issues
Funding Amounts: Estimated total program funding: $324,000,000 | Typical award duration: 12–48 months (R&R) or 36 months (Hiring); see details
Summary: Supports fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations to hire, recruit, and retain frontline firefighters, improving community fire protection and staffing.
Key Information: No cost share required for R&R grants; cost share required for Hiring Activity grants.
Description
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program, administered by FEMA under the Department of Homeland Security, provides financial assistance to fire departments and eligible organizations to increase or maintain the number of trained, "frontline" firefighters available in communities. The program aims to help fire departments meet staffing, response, and operational standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), including achieving 24-hour staffing and enhancing deployment capabilities to protect communities from fire-related hazards.
SAFER offers two main activities:
- Hiring of Firefighters: Assists fire departments in hiring new firefighters or converting part-time/paid-on-call firefighters to full-time status.
- Recruitment and Retention (R&R) of Volunteer Firefighters: Supports fire departments and organizations in recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters.
The SAFER Program is a key federal initiative to improve public and firefighter safety and ensure adequate fire protection across the United States.
