Austintown to hire firefighters with $300,000 federal grant

AUSTINTOWN -- The township plans to use a $300,000 federal grant to hire three more full-time firefighters, said fire Chief Andrew Frost.
Frost said Friday the department was able to prove a staffing need to win the competitive grant.
"We're very undermanned here," he said. Three firefighters staff each of two stations on each shift, with the department's other two stations staffed by part-time firefighters responding from home, he said.
Frost said the plan is to add one new firefighter to each of the department's three 24-hour shifts, boosting coverage from six firefighters a shift to seven.
The grant is funded and administered by the Department of Homeland Security, he said. It encompasses wages and fringe benefits for a five-year period.
Breakdown of money
Township trustees committed matching funds to the grant, Frost said. He provided this breakdown of federal and local money:
UFirst year, 90 percent federal funds.
USecond year, 80 percent federal funds.
UThird year, 50 percent federal funds.
UFourth year, 30 percent federal funds.
UFifth year, funding must come from the township.
Frost said that each firefighter will cost the township about $30,000 a year plus benefits.
Frost said the department is aiming to increase safety for firefighters by boosting staff numbers.