Byron Fire Department Receives SAFER Grant

BYRON, Georgia (41 NBC/WMGT) – The Byron Fire Department has been awarded the SAFER grant. 

Thursday night, the Byron City Council approved the grant that is worth almost $500,000. The gran will allow the fire department to hire six full time firefighters.

The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant will help the Byron Fire Department address the demands put on firefighters in the area because of community growth and an increase in emergencies.

According to a news release sent on Friday, “the grant will provide funding directly to fire departments to help them increase the number of trained, ‘front-line’ firefighters available in their community.”

Fire Chief J.D. Mosby spoke with 41 NBC about the process he and the department went through to receive the grant.

“The first time we went for the 2008 grant, unfortunately we weren’t able to take because of the decline in the economy in 2009, then the 2010 one we were not successfully awarded,” Mosby said.  “This is our third try and we’ve got it back now. “

The grant will allow the department to enhance the part-time and volunteer reserve staff with 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Mosby told 41 NBC that the department “relies heavily on the volunteer department.” He said that the grant will “only enhance what the part-time and volunteer departments provide.”