The federal grants was announced Monday, officials said.
Newark firefighters at a swearing-in ceremony last week. (Vernal Coleman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)NEWARK -- The city's fire department will hire and train 38 new firefighters, thanks to a $7.4 million public safety grant officials announced Monday.
Mayor Ras Baraka, Senators Cory Booker and Robert Menendez, U.S. Congressmen Donald Payne and Albio Sires, and other local officials announced the "SAFER" grant (Staffing Adequate Fire Emergency Responders) in a ceremony at a Central Ward firehouse Monday morning.
"Newark is...an urban center which is home to one of the nation's largest air, rail and shipping hubs, as well as more than 280,000 residents, and growing -- and our service needs are complex," Baraka said in a statement.
SEE MORE: NFD promotes 21 officers
"The SAFER grant will enhance...our efforts to deliver to the citizens of Newark (the) best services possible."
The grant will allow the NFD to maintain staffing levels, which were previously funded through grants, officials said.
It is one of several awarded to municipalities throughout the state of New Jersey over the past year, officials said in a release about the announcement. The program has doled out $55.8 million to N.J. fire departments, officials said.
"New Jersey's firefighters and fire departments protect our communities," Booker said in a statement. "But they can't do their job if they don't have the staff and resources they need."
The announcement comes about a week after 21 fire department officers were promoted in a city ceremony, and several weeks after officials announced new groups of police recruits it plans to add to the city's department.
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
