On Friday, Aug. 4, Fire Chief Bud Backer sent out a press release stating the Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded East Pierce the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant, roughly $1.7 million for the next three years, in order to hire nine more firefighters to increase the department’s fire suppression abilities.

The new ladder truck will be purchased after a competitive public bidding process. After a contract is awarded, new fire vehicles are typically delivered within six to nine months. The bidding process can take several months.

The base price for an ambulance ride will cost you $850. In an effort to cut-back on rides for non-emergencies, 'Healthcare Navigators' are now operational. The fully-equipped, medical mobile units have everything needed to administer aid.

The new 21,400-square-foot station will house an engine, heavy rescue, a tanker, a basic life support ambulance, hazardous material response units and a brush truck. The existing station is 18,500 square feet and was built in 1979. It will be razed at the completion and occupation of the new building.

The county’s Department of Fire and Rescue Chief, Kevin McGee, also spoke at the groundbreaking and said the new station will be energy efficient and cost efficient to operate and maintain. The new building will also allow fire and rescue personnel to work more effectively by shortening response times, McGee said. “This station is designed to get our responders to their apparatus and on to their response route as quickly as possible in a faster and safer way than we are today. That’s going to be shaving off response times from the many thousands of emergency incidents we respond to from this station for many decades to come.”