County residents can expect to see a boost to local firefighting ranks – at least for the next two years.
The Hollister Fire Department has received a $2.2 million SAFER grant and will bring on 12 firefighters for a term of three years each, the fire chief announced this week.
The federal grant – it stands for Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response – will increase the number of countywide firefighters from 28 to 40. That is more than a 40 percent boost in firefighting ranks. The city department contracts with the county and San Juan Bautista for fire protection services as well, while the new firefighters will be disbursed at each of the four area fire stations.
Fire Chief Mike O’Connor said the department plans to hire the firefighters April 4 from the department’s reserve program. The grant funds will expire in three years, and city officials consider the positions temporary.
“We’re working on a system to make sure guys are resumes ready,” O’Connor said.
