Canon City Fire Protection District gets $3.2 million to cover new hires for 3 years

CANON CITY, Colo. (KRDO) -- A southern Colorado fire chief says $3 million in federal grant money is going to help his crews shorten response times.

Thanks to a federal grant, the Canon City Fire Protection District (CCFPD) now has the money to hire a dozen new firefighters to meet the increasing number of emergency calls in the community.

According to the CCFPD, the "Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response" Grant (SAFER) is administered through FEMA and will cover all of the personnel costs associated with hiring 12 new firefighters for a total of three years. The CCFPD said this couldn't have come at a better time, as their third fire station is scheduled to be complete early in 2023.

"You know, we have been understaffed for many years," ... said.

That's according to standards set by the National Fire Protection Association.

"We should be at about 48 to 52 firefighters. We currently have 33," ... added

The shortage is taking a toll on the firefighters that work to cover 122 square mile area. Call volume for the CCFPD has increased nearly 70 percent from 2005 to 2021.

"We needed the new positions. So this grant was key," ... said.

The CCFPD said their newest fire station will open around the end of February. The Chief hopes to fill the new firefighter positions by April so recruits can begin their training and officially start work by July.