Missoula Fire Department wins $7M federal grant

The Missoula Fire Department announced Friday it has been awarded a $7 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to boost staffing.

The money comes from the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program, authorized by the 2023 congressional appropriation bill. 

Along with the fire levy approved by Missoula voters last year, the grant funding “is crucial for increasing personnel availability and ensuring a swift and effective response to emergencies,” the fire department stated in a press release.

The fire levy is projected annually to bring in an additional $7 million in property taxes to the department.

The combined money will also help sustain funding for the Mobile Support Team (MST), an emergency response team focused on mental health support.

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The aim of the MST is to help people connect to resources in the community, rather than having them spend time in jail or the emergency room on the taxpayer dime.

“This is a monumental moment for our fire department and our community,” Missoula Fire Chief Gordy Hughes stated. “The approval of the levy and the SAFER grant will greatly enhance our ability to respond to emergencies more effectively and

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