Regular closures at a Prescott fire station could be a thing of the past soon, thanks to a federal grant that would pay for nine firefighter positions. City officials were notified late last week that Prescott was approved for a two-year $1.5 million federal grant through the SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) program.
City Manager Craig McConnell announced the notification in this week's briefing to the Prescott City Council.
Prescott Fire Chief Dennis Light said Thursday, Aug. 18, that the grant award could bring an end to the regular "browning-out" (temporary closure) of the department's airport-area Station 73.
The fire department applied for the grant earlier this year, and has been awaiting word on the application for the past several months.
The next step is review by the Prescott City Council. McConnell's briefing memo stated that grant acceptance, as well as implementation information, is tentatively scheduled to be on the council's Sept. 13 meeting agenda.
Mayor Harry Oberg said Friday, Aug. 19, that he believes the grant would get council approval. "I don't think there will be any question; I think we'll accept it," he said.
Meanwhile, Light expressed optimism that the grant could help the fire department get through a tough budget situation. Although the SAFER grant would cover the firefighter positions for just two years, he said, "It would allow everyone to take a deep breath."
Noting that a number of variables could come into play over the next two years that could bring a longer-term solution, Light said, "(The grant) would allow us to reset the stage."
If accepted by the council, the grant likely would allow the city to have 57 firefighting personnel, Light said, which would equate to 19 people on three shifts. That, in turn, would allow for "17 persons on duty 24/7, 365," he added.