Thanks to a lucrative federal grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, St. Cloud Fire Rescue will be able to hire 48 additional firefighters, the agency reported Friday.
The $9.5 million SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant, fed by a program designed to help departments expand with their growing communities, will help SCFR effectively respond to emergencies in places like Tohoqua, in building communities along Clay Whaley Road and Kissimmee Park Road, and in places on the expanding southern and eastern portions of the city.
“The quality of service we provide to our residents is paramount,” said St. Cloud Fire Chief Jason Miller. As a longtime SCFR member, he recalls a time when the city was more compact and easier to respond to.
“When you or your loved ones need emergency help, knowing you have a well-trained, caring, and professional fire department minutes away makes all the difference," he said.
City officials say this SAFER award is the largest grant of its kind awarded in St. Cloud, and they chalk that up to quality of the application proposal prepared by the St. Cloud Professional Firefighters Local 4153 alongside city staff.
“The St. Cloud City Council and I are enormous supporters of improving public safety for our residents,” St. Cloud Mayor Chris Robertson said in a release about the award. “It is exciting to be able to grow this department to meet the demands of our community.”
St. Cloud Fire Rescue has more than 90 sworn firefighters and operates four fire stations, with one new one and two replacement ones in the pipelines. Those responders have answered and average of just over 100,000 calls for service since 2022, a number that's steadily grown — not a surprise since the city's population has swelled to more than 70,000 residents, city and census figures show.
The St. Cloud City Council is committing city funding to those new stations, a Fire Training Classroom Facility on Cord Avenue and a new tower truck, to the tune of $37.6 million. State funding has also been secured for a new rescue boat.
