Larchmont FD Receives Grant to Hire Three Firefighters

The Village of Larchmont Fire Department will add three firefighters to their staff, courtesy of a $519,774 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant.

SAFER—the firefighter grant division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)—provides money to restore firefighter staffing levels lowered by layoffs or attrition.

The grant will pay salary and benefits for three firefighters for a two-year term (the grant will extend to a three-year term if new hires have previously served in the U.S. military).

"We had to consider doing this very carefully because what would happen, if all things stayed the same at the end of two years, we would have three more full-time firemen in our budget and that would be a considerable knock to our tax cap," said Larchmont Mayor Anne McAndrews.

Trustee John Komar pointed out that the grant would enhance the Department, which works closely with the Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department. Both Komar and Trustee Peter Fanelli are volunteer firefighters.

Acceptance of the grant was approved unanimously by the board.