Scottsdale accepts federal grant to hire six firefighters in December

PHOENIX — The Scottsdale City Council voted last month to accept a federal grant that will allow the fire department to add six employees.

With the new hires, the fire department hopes there will be a decrease of overtime hours within the department.

Last year, the city estimated a need for 12 new full-time firefighters, but only six were approved.

A grant worth almost $1.3 million over three years from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will allow the remaining six spots to be filled.

The city will match the grant by 25 percent over the first two years and then 65 percent in the third year.

The City Council estimated new hires will save the city about $1.8 million in overtime costs through November 2022.

Hiring was planned to take place in December, and the 16-week academy was set to begin in January.

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