Mayor Ken Hopkins announced Monday that the City of Cranston has been awarded an annual three-year $1.22 million federal grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant program. Awarded over three years, this grant totals approximately $3.67 million.

The federal funds will enable the city to hire and pay for 12 new full-time firefighters for the next three years. He added that the award will allow Cranston to add a new class of recruits to the department to help with staffing levels and aid in reducing overtime costs.

“This is great news for our fire department and all Cranston residents. It will help us maintain full manpower and ensure the fire department continues to be well-staffed and well-equipped,” said Hopkins.

He added that adding these new firefighters will continue the city’s high level of firefighting service and public safety for citizens and businesses. He noted that sometimes the efforts of the police and fire departments are just assumed and go unnoticed on a day in and day out basis.

“It’s in those critical times of emergencies and danger that our public safety members shine in their protection of our community,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins expressed sincere appreciation to Rhode Island’s congressional delegation who lent the critical support of their offices in advocating for Cranston with FEMA officials.

“Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and former Congressman Jim Langevin have been great partners with us as we work on federal and local issues,” Hopkins said. “I recently met with our new Congressman Seth Magaziner and I know he is committed to helping Cranston on a broad scope of important issues.”

The mayor congratulated Fire Chief James Warren and his command staff for pursuing the SAFER grant.

“This award is a direct reflection of Chief Warren’s leadership,” Hopkins said.

He said the fire department has recruited members from all sectors and will undertake a new training class in the coming weeks.

“I look forward to welcoming the new firefighters aboard when they complete their training,” Hopkins said.

In 2022, the Cranston Fire Department responded to nearly 18,000 calls for service from Cranston’s 83,000 residents along with mutual aid to neighboring communities. The mayor concluded by emphasizing the benefits of the federal funding.

“This SAFER grant will allow the Fire Department to bring its current staffing up to full levels in order to maintain their dedicated firefighting capabilities, reduce overtime costs, and bring relief to firefighters who must work overtime to make up for periodic manpower reductions on some shifts,” Hopkins said.

He noted that in September of 2022 the Cranston Fire Department also received a $1 million grant from the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant program to fund a new aerial ladder truck.