LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - The City of Lincoln will soon expand its fire department thanks to a new federal grant. Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and Lincoln Fire and Rescue (LFR) Chief Dave Engler announced Wednesday that FEMA awarded the city a three-year, $2.3 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to help pay for nine additional firefighters.

“These new firefighters fortify our commitment to public safety and enhance our efforts to ensure the well-being of our entire community,” Mayor Gaylor Baird said.

The grant will cover a portion of salaries and benefits, with hiring expected in spring 2026 and service beginning that summer. LFR last received a $5.9 million SAFER grant in 2023, which funded 18 additional firefighters and paramedics.

Chief Engler said the

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