The city's fire department plans to hire three dozen new firefighters after being approved for a $4 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The funding will come from a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant that can be used to hire and train firefighters to be ready in case of natural disasters, terrorism or other catastrophes.
Capt. Bill Wade, a Tampa Fire Rescue spokesman, said the money will be used to hire 36 entry-level firefighters at $35,000 a year with benefits. He said the department's efforts to bring staffing levels up to national standards have been constrained by budget cuts.
"Instead of hiring a few each year, this gives us a big leap forward," Wade said.
The grant covers about 90 percent of the salaries and benefits for the new hires for the first year and a decreasing amount over the next four years. After that, the city will be responsible for paying the salaries and benefits.
Wade said fire rescue plans to begin hiring in about two months.
"We were moving in that direction already," he said. "The grant gives us a jump-start."
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