FFD receives $2.3M federal grant to increase staffing and improve emergency response

By Staff Report, posted Oct 13, 2026 on BizFayetteville.com

Photo courtesy of the City of Fayetteville

The Fayetteville Fire Department (FFD) has been awarded the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), totaling more than $2.3 million.

The SAFER grant will allow the FFD to add 18 firefighter positions to the current 369 fire personnel. These new positions will staff two additional ladder trucks, supplementing the five ladder trucks currently placed strategically throughout the City.

The goal of SAFER is to enhance local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the National Fire Protection Association.

“As we strive to provide the highest quality fire protection to our residents and visitors, this federal funding will save local tax dollars and increase our ability to keep our community and our firefighters safe," said Fayetteville Fire Chief Kevin Dove in a press release.

As part of the FFD’s commitment to exceptional service and continuous improvement, the department undergoes ongoing self‑assessment and peer review to evaluate community risks, current service coverage and opportunities for enhancement. This analysis helps identify where improvements such as increased staffing, updated equipment or resource redistribution could strengthen service delivery.

This grant will support further enhancements of service provided to the residents and visitors of the City. Plans are underway to have the positions filled and additional units in service in early 2027.

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