Grant Allows Warren To Add 18 Firefighters In 2013

 WARREN (WWJ) - The city of Warren plans to hire 18 new firefighters by early spring 2013.

Fire Commissioner Skip McAdams says the city was won a $3 million grant from FEMA and it will make a big difference.

"It's very rare that excitement has caused me to get a headache - but I haven't had this much excitement professionally in a while," said McAdams.

He said through attrition they've dropped from 145 in 2009, down to 119 in 2012.

"Residents will see improved response times, they will see additional manpower on the scene and they'll see levels of service that they had come to expect prior to 2009," said McAdams.

During the recession, the city lost 26 firefighters, yet McAdams said they now handle about 3,000 more runs a year.

The hiring is expected to take place by early March.

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