The Daily Herald recently published an article highlighting how the Naperville Fire Department has received a significant SAFER grant, providing much-needed financial support for staffing. The grant, worth over $1 million, will cover salaries and benefits for the next two years, easing the pressure on Chief Mark Puknaitis as he works to maintain adequate staffing levels.

Administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the SAFER program—short for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response—is designed to help fire departments retain or rehire personnel in times of budget constraints. For Naperville, this grant is a lifeline, helping to fill six vacant firefighter/paramedic positions and two administrative roles that have been unfilled due to attrition over the past few years.

Puknaitis shared that the funding could potentially allow the department to hire three new firefighter/paramedics, which would be a major boost for operations. With 185 personnel spread across three 24-hour shifts, maintaining staffing is essential for public safety. The chief is now working with the city’s finance team to finalize the budget and determine exactly how many hires can be made.

According to the grant terms, recruitment must begin within 90 days of receiving the funds, and the city must keep its current staffing level—and the new hires—for the full two-year period. This ensures that the department doesn’t lose ground during a time when retirements are expected to increase in the coming years.

Chief Puknaitis noted that the competition for SAFER grants is fierce, with around 2,500 fire departments applying nationwide and only 300–350 receiving funding. He emphasized the importance of such grants in supporting the department’s long-term stability, especially as older firefighters retire and younger ones step in.

Meanwhile, the Naperville Sun also reported on the same grant, highlighting the role of local lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Bill Foster and Sen. Dick Durbin, in securing the funding. The award was part of the broader SAFER initiative aimed at ensuring first responders have the resources they need to protect communities.

While the new hires will come with lower starting salaries, Puknaitis acknowledged the challenge of replacing experienced personnel with newer staff. Still, he stressed that the grant is crucial for keeping the department operational and meeting the needs of the growing community.

“A million bucks over two years is huge,” he said, adding that such funding is not easily obtained. “And they don’t give that kind of money to just anybody.”

Thanks Dan

Also from the Naperville Sun… it seems the city’s firefighting agency also received a grant. But wait, isn’t that what the fire department is? It's strange to hear them referred to as an "agency" instead of a department. Maybe it's just a different way of phrasing it, but it feels a bit odd. Anyway, the point is clear—the city is getting much-needed support to keep its emergency services running smoothly.

Thanks Chris

… firefighting agency … are you kidding me?

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