SPECIAL TO THE REPORTER

The SAFER grant program recently awarded the Helena Fire Department badly needed funding.

Congressman Spencer Bachus announced last Wednesday that the SAFER, or Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, program gave the Helena Fire Department $310,500.

&8220;With this grant money,&8221; Bachus said, &8220;the Department will be able to hire new firefighters and devote more time to recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters,&8221; he added, &8220;The grant will help Helena meet the rapidly growing demands resulting from the large number of new homes being built in this area.&8221;

Helena Mayor Sonny Penhale gladly welcomed the financial relief. &8220;The Fire Department and I had just finished talking about how understaffed we were and how we needed money, when I got the call from Congressman Bachus&8217;s office,&8221; he said. &8220;This grant has sure answered a lot of prayers.&8221;

SAFER is a part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program, and is under the Office of Grants and Training at the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C