The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase the number of trained, "front line" firefighters available in their communities. The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response, and operational standards established by the NFPA and OSHA (NFPA 1710 and/or NFPA 1720 and OSHA 1910.134). For details visit NFPA.org/SAFERActGrant.
THE FY 2012 SAFER AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE UNDERWAY
View Award List
FY 2012 Application Assistance Tools
SAFER Get Ready Guides
These guides will help you be prepared to answer Hiring and Recruitment and Retention application questions.
- The SAFER Get Ready Guide (General)
- The SAFER Get Ready Guide (Hiring)
- The SAFER Get Ready Guide (Recruitment and Retention)
SAFER Self-Evaluation Sheets
SAFER Self-Evaluation Sheets have been developed based on the scoring criteria used by peer reviewers. These tools will help you assess your organization's readiness to apply for a grant.
- The SAFER Self Evaluation Sheet (Hiring)
- The SAFER Self Evaluation Sheet (Recruitment and Retention)
- SAFER Program Guidance
SAFER Veterans Hiring Program - NEW!
- FEMA has developed several strategies and incentives that will be available to grantees that hire military veterans.
SAFER Veterans Hiring Program Announcement
SAFER Application Tutorial
- *NOTE* - This is the FY 2011 SAFER Application Tutorial and not a tutorial for the FY 2012 SAFER Grant program. However, some applicants may find the FY 2011 information useful to help them understand the various sections of the application.
View tutorial
FY 2011 SAFER Updates
FY 2011 SAFER awards are underway.
- Check the list of grant recipients.
- System For Award Registrations (SAM) Is A Requirement For All Applicants
- Register your organization in the System for Award Management (SAM) (SAM.gov), which has replaced the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) system. You may submit an application without being registered in SAM, but you will not be awarded a grant until you are registered in SAM. If you registered in the CCR previously, you don’t have to do anything until that registration expires. Then you will validate and update your data, which will have been moved to the SAM.gov system. For questions about SAM, contact Chanee Williams (Chanee.Williams@ fema.dhs.gov) and Jane Early (Jane.Early@fema.dhs.gov).
- If you have questions, please call your Regional Fire Program Specialist, or contact the AFG Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960 or firegrants@dhs.gov.
SAFER Videos
- Watch the following SAFER videos
- SAFER Grant Recruitment and Retention Video
- FY 2010 SAFER Grant Program Video