Joplin Fire Department awarded federal grant to hire additional firefighters

The Joplin Fire Department has won a generous federal grant that will provide expedited funding for the addition of new firefighters. 

The department received word this week that it has been selected to receive a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant, awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The $800,000 grant is designed to be combined with a $500,000 contribution from the City – giving the department $1.3 million to hire six new firefighters and to have their salaries covered for the first three years. 

SAFER grants were established by the Department of Homeland Security in 2005 to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, "front-line" firefighters available in their communities. 

Receiving this grant means that the funding generated through Proposition Police and Fire (the continuance of Proposition B which was overwhelmingly approved by Joplin voters earlier this year), will go toward the hiring of new firefighter staff much sooner than the City anticipated.

Proposition B was approved in 2019 to fully fund the retirement pensions of Joplin Police and Fire personnel. That pension fund is expected to be funded at 120% in early 2027. Tax revenue from Proposition Police and Fire will then go toward salary increases, capital improvements, and necessary staff upsizing for those areas. 

Deputy Fire Chief Andy Nimmo said in its grant application, the department had to prove a need for staffing, show that the positions would be funded in perpetuity, and prove that the addition of staff would make a substantial improvement to the department’s response capabilities. Joplin firefighters routinely work mandatory overtime due to call volume and service expectations. 

Joplin Fire Chief Gerald Ezell said receiving the SAFER grant will accelerate the addition of these much-needed positions. 

“This will have a major impact in reducing mandatory overtime for our firefighter staff, improving their work-life balance,” said Ezell. “The combined impacts of increasing pay levels for our firefighters as well as increasing staff will make a positive difference in our recruitment and retention efforts. Adding these positions to our staff will also help us maintain the level of service our citizens expect given the growing call volume and overall growth of the community.” 

City Manager Nick Edwards praised the department for its pursuit of the grant dollars. This is the first time the department has received this award from FEMA. 

“This grant is a huge win for the City of Joplin and the Joplin Fire Department,” Edwards said. “Our fire department will be better staffed, and we will be able to improve our focus on the needs of our citizens in terms of fire prevention and protection. I’m incredibly proud of the department for finding and earning this opportunity.”