Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and Lincoln Fire and Rescue Chief Dave Engler shared some good news on Thursday morning. They announced that the City of Lincoln has been awarded a federal grant to help pay for nine additional firefighters.
The three-year, $2.3 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “This new SAFER award is an important step in making Lincoln an even safer community,” says Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird. “By adding nine firefighters to our team at LFR, we fortify our commitment to public safety and enhance our efforts to ensure the well-being of our entire community.
SAFER grants provide funding to fire departments to help them increase or maintain the number of trained firefighters available in their communities. The grant covers a portion of salaries and benefits for the new personnel.
“These nine new staff members will allow LFR to be better positioned to respond to increasing service demands in the coming years,” Engler says. “Lincoln Fire and Rescue is committed to operational excellence, and this grant accelerates our mission to safeguard lives and property at the highest level of service.”
The nine firefighters are expected to be hired in spring 2026 and begin service that summer. LFR also received a $5.9 million SAFER grant in 2023 to help pay for 18 additional firefighters/paramedics.
Engler also announced two new initiatives designed to support the health and safety of first responders. Click here for additional details.