Scio And Jefferson Fire Districts Awarded $1.19 Million FEMA SAFER Grant - 10/23/26

Scio and Jefferson Fire Districts Awarded $1.19 Million FEMA SAFER Grant

The Fire Chiefs of Scio Fire District and Jefferson Fire District are pleased to announce that the two districts have been awarded a $1.19 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The districts pursued the grant through a collaborative partnership and will share equally in the award, strengthening their ability to recruit, train, and retain volunteer firefighters and emergency responders.

The FEMA SAFER grant program provides funding to help fire departments increase and maintain staffing levels by recruiting and retaining qualified firefighters and emergency personnel. Through this award, Scio and Jefferson Fire Districts will hire a Recruitment and Retention Coordinator to oversee the grant, coordinate recruitment efforts, and support volunteer onboarding and retention programs in both districts.

Grant funding will also help offset the significant costs associated with preparing new volunteers for service. Eligible expenses include initial training, required personal protective equipment (PPE), emergency medical technician (EMT) and paramedic education, reimbursement for certain college-level courses, and cancer screenings for firefighters.

Recruiting and preparing a new volunteer firefighter requires a substantial financial investment. Initial onboarding and training can cost approximately $2,000 per recruit, while required protective equipment averages $5,000 per firefighter. EMT training can add another $3,500. For small, primarily volunteer fire districts operating with limited budgets, these expenses can create significant barriers to recruitment and retention.

While the grant will substantially reduce the financial burden associated with recruiting and preparing new volunteers, it will not eliminate these costs. The districts will continue to face expenses associated with volunteer training, equipment, education, and retention, many of which extend beyond the grant's scope or funding period. The award will help make these investments more manageable, allowing both districts to strengthen their volunteer programs while continuing to work within limited budgets.

By working together, Scio and Jefferson Fire Districts are taking an important step toward building a stronger, more sustainable volunteer workforce and ensuring continued emergency services for their residents.

The fire districts would like to thank Representatives Janelle Bynum and Andrea Salinas, and Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley for their efforts in helping the districts obtain this important grant. The four-year grant period has a goal of hiring a Recruitment and Retention Coordinator by January 1.

Both fire districts are currently accepting new volunteers. Applications for Scio Fire District can be found at Sciofire.org, and applications for Jefferson Fire District are available at Jeffersonfire.org.