Anne Arundel County received a $4.97 million federal grant to support 26 additional EMT/firefighter positions over three years, expanding emergency response staffing and advancing the County’s long-term service planning.

The funding comes through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program, which helps fire departments increase or maintain the number of trained frontline firefighters serving their communities.

The 26 additional positions will support the Anne Arundel County Fire Department’s operational readiness and advance recommendations outlined in its recently published Community Risk Assessment and Standards of Coverage document. The new positions will complement the County’s staffing investments over the past seven years.

From the county press release:

“Adding 26 positions will have a positive impact across our entire response system, giving us greater flexibility to put resources where they are needed most,” said Fire Chief Trisha L. Wolford. “The SAFER grant reflects years of thoughtful operational and financial planning in collaboration with our key stakeholders.”

The award comes as Maryland counties continue to navigate firefighter recruitment, retention, and emergency response staffing needs. Federal programs such as SAFER provide an additional funding source for local governments working to maintain adequate staffing and meet growing service demands. The three-year grant will allow Anne Arundel County to expand its firefighting and emergency medical services workforce while continuing to plan for the long-term staffing and financial needs of the department.