City of Fullerton Awarded Over $3.1 Million in Federal Fire Service Grants
City of Fullerton Awarded Over $3.1 Million in Federal Fire Service Grants
FULLERTON, CA (September 29, 2025) – The City of Fullerton is proud to announce it has been awarded two highly competitive federal grants totaling over $3.1 million to enhance fire and emergency medical services for the community.
Last week, the City received official notification of a $2,836,716 SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) Grant award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This funding will support the hiring of 12 new firefighters, enabling the City to re-staff Engine 6 as a Paramedic unit and relocate the ladder truck to Station 1, where the majority of truck responses occur.
The SAFER grant will cover the cost of these positions over a three-year period, with the federal government funding 75% in years one and two, and 35% in year three. The City will provide the remaining cost share.
“This is a tremendous win for Fullerton,” said Fire Chief Adam Loeser. “The SAFER grant will significantly enhance our emergency response capabilities and ensure we continue to provide high-quality service to our residents.”
The success of the SAFER grant application was made possible through the collaborative efforts of City staff and letters of support submitted by:
- U.S. Senator Adam Schiff
- U.S. Senator Alex Padilla
- U.S. Representative J. Luis Correa (46th District)
- U.S. Representative Derek Tran (45th District)
- California State Senator Steven S. Choi, Ph.D. (SD-37)
- California State Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (AD-67)
- Orange County Supervisor Doug Chaffee (4th District)
- Fullerton Firefighters’ Association
In addition, the City was recently awarded a $305,227.27 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to implement a comprehensive cancer screening and NFPA compliant wellness program for all sworn fire personnel. This grant also spans three years and includes a 10% City cost share.
Both grants will be presented to the Fullerton City Council in October for formal acceptance and to initiate the next steps in fulfilling the grant performance measures.
“These awards reflect our ongoing commitment to public safety and the health and well-being of our first responders,” said Mayor Fred Jung. “We are deeply grateful for the support of our federal and state partners, and proud of the hard work our staff put into securing these vital resources.”
