The Chula Vista Fire Department (CVFD) has been awarded a grant from the Department of Homeland Security that will be dedicated to adding more firefighters to the department.
According to the Chula Vista Firefighters Local 2180, the department has consistently failed to meet the national response time goal for six years.
The union has been asking the Chula Vista City Council for more hands on deck for years.
On June 6, the council approved funds to add 12 more firefighters on four additional engines in the department, regardless of whether the city received the federal grant or not.
Monday, the city was awarded the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant.
The federal grant and city funding will provide $3.7 million for staffing for CVFD for the next three years, according to the city.
"Staffing our fire engines with a four-person crew has been proven to accomplish the 22 essential firefighting functions 25 percent faster than an engine company staffed with three. The fourth firefighter allows the Chula Vista Fire Department to quickly begin firefighting and medical emergency operations when they arrive on scene," said Fire Chief Jim Geering in a statement.
