Two, good-sized chunks of money are coming to the City of Fairfax and its Fire Department, courtesy of the federal government. The funds are to be used for staffing and training.

FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security have awarded $523,905 in grant funds to the City of Fairfax under the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. The money is earmarked for improving or restoring local fire departments’ staffing and deployment capabilities so they may respond to emergencies more effectively.

In addition, the City of Fairfax Fire Department will receive $91,305 for training via the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program that supports local fire departments. U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-Va.) announced this development on Sept. 2.

“Virginia’s first-responders, including the firefighters who put themselves at risk every day, must be well-equipped to handle threats to public safety,” said Warner. “These federal funds will help provide them with the tools and training they need to be able to carry out their duties and protect our communities.”

The City of Fairfax Fire Department received grant funding from the regional AFG for the Northern Virginia Fire & Rescue Leadership Development Institute (LDI). It’s a regional/joint leadership development program for junior and aspiring officers, and the City’s Fire Department is the lead agency holding the funds.

“LDI is an interactive, highly challenging, educational initiative of the Northern Virginia Fire Chiefs,” explained Capt. Shawn Dunstan, the training officer for the City of Fairfax Fire Department. “The LDI is a week-long residency program designed to provide first-line supervisors or aspiring company officers and command officers the necessary leadership training to be successful as officers.”

“The course brings together company officers from around the region,” he continued. “The time they spend together will not only improve relationships and build networks, but will improve emergency responses because of the leadership training provided.”