Joplin Fire Department awarded $800,000 FEMA grant for staffing

The Joplin Fire Department has been awarded an $800,000 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Combined with a $500,000 contribution from the City of Joplin, the total $1.3 million in funding will allow the department to hire six new firefighters with salaries covered for the first three years.

The grant accelerates staffing increases originally planned through tax revenue from Proposition Police and Fire. By securing these federal funds, the department can address mandatory overtime caused by high call volumes and service expectations more quickly than previously anticipated.