Grant Approval Could Bring More Firefighters To Brookfield

BROOKFIELD, WI—The City of Brookfield Common Council will consider on Tuesday approving a nearly $3 million grant aimed at providing resources for the government and restoring staffing for the fire department. The program—Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response—is sponsored by FEMA.

The City of Brookfield Fire Department applied for the program, in part, to hire additional firefighting staff to increase compliance with National Fire Prevention Association guidelines for the number of firefighters available on an active fire scene, according to online city documents.

Brookfield Alderman Mike Hallquist told Patch the city qualifies for the grant because it is under the recommended national standard. The city hasn't created new positions since 1995, according to online city documents.

The grant would allow the city to hire nine firefighter/paramedics.

The total annual cost for that additional staffing in the first year is $964,000. The total cost over the 3-year period of the grant is $2,994,000 – equal to the amount of the SAFER grant reimbursement.

To claim the amount awarded under the grant, the city must hire additional firefighters (with projected start dates in February 2022 and retain those staff members throughout the term of the grant (called the performance period) until February 2025. The city cannot hire new fire department staff with the SAFER grant funds and then allow currently filled positions to remain vacant via attrition, the documents said.

The city has until Oct. 10 to accept or reject the grant.