To the Editor:
The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District has applied for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency's Staffing-for-Adequate-Fire-and-Emergency-Response' (SAFER) Grant.
The amount requested is $6,717,058 which will cover 46 firefighter positions for a two-year period. This represents 44 percent of the department. Without the SAFER Grant the department will be faced with the possibility of closing two fire stations.
The District recognized the importance of the SAFER Grant to our community and had worked long hours to complete the 2011 SAFER Application.
The awarding of the SAFER grant is critical to the level of emergency services in Lehigh Acres by retaining the much needed firefighters that provided superior level of service to the community.
As a result, our on-duty staffing levels will be maintained, assisting us in better addressing the needs of our residents, as well as being able to maintain our ambulance service.
Our Department was honored to have received the 2009 SAFER Grant and I believe the residents of our community have greatly benefited from the award which was one of the highest awards to a fire department our size.
Fire Chief Donald R. Adams
Lehigh Acres Fire Control
& Rescue District
Lehigh Acres
