Rep. Aguilar Announces Over $9 Million for San Bernardino County Fire Protection District

The FEMA grant will provide San Bernardino County with over $9 million to hire new firefighters to improve fire response capabilities

Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) announced $9,360,000 for the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District to hire and train 21 new firefighters, helping to expand the region's 24-hour on-call fire response coverage and improving safety in the Inland Empire.

"As our region continues to face a worsening, year-round fire season, it is essential that we are equipped with the necessary amount of resources and firefighters to keep Californians safe," said Rep. Pete Aguilar. "I am proud to announce this grant funding to hire 21 new firefighters for San Bernardino County who will be tasked with stopping fires before they get out of hand, responding to emergencies, and overall protecting our county. I'll keep fighting to support our first responders in California and across the country to ensure that they have the ability to do their jobs fully."

"This SAFER grant represents a meaningful investment in our fire district and the communities we protect," said San Bernardino County Chairman of the Board Dawn Rowe. "With the addition of 21 new firefighters across the Fire Protection District, we will be able to enhance our 24-hour coverage, effectively addressing the increasing demands of one of the county's fastest-growing regions."

The funding comes as part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program. The SAFER Grant Program provides funding directly to fire departments throughout the country to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, frontline firefighters available in their communities.