$3.3 million federal grant for Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue

A $3.3 million federal grant is on its way to the Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced Wednesday. 

The grant will fund 12 Firefighter/Paramedic positions, according to SVFRA Chief Stephen Akre, and allow for heightened services to the City of Sonoma, Glen Ellen, and Valley of the Moon.”

“This award will bring our staffing level to three Firefighter/Paramedics on each engine,” Akre said. “This increased staffing is closer to national standards and will enable us to provide more effective and safer service.”

Thompson secured the $3,382,458 Federal grant comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s SAFER program.  

“Each and every day, our first responders put their lives on the line to keep us safe and it’s critical we work to support their efforts by helping them access training and resources to hire more firefighters and paramedics,” the Congressman said. “I’m proud of Chief Akre and his entire team for receiving this important grant to help our entire community.”

Akre in turn thanked Thompson “for his support of our grant request and to FEMA and DHS for their support of these critically important service improvements.”

 –Photo by William Murray