ROCHELLE — On Aug. 19, the City of Rochelle and the Rochelle Fire Department announced their receipt of a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant in the amount of $919,368 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that will allow for the addition of three full-time firefighter/EMTs.
Last year, the city council agreed to a new contract with RFD’s union to increase its staffing by a total of six new firefighters/EMTs. Three have already been hired and the cost of the next three hires will be covered by the grant for the next three years. After the coming hires, RFD will have 18 permanent full-time firefighter/EMTs.
The RFD staffing expansion came due to increases in emergency call volumes in recent years. Call volume went up 50 percent between 2020 and 2022, from just over 2,000 calls to just over 3,000 calls. RFD Firefighter/EMT Ben Johnson said the grant funds will give RFD the opportunity to respond to that change in need.
Johnson said the factors creating increased call volumes are permanent. Increased numbers seen during the COVID-19 pandemic have remained, and the Baby Boom generation has entered the age range that is the largest user of RFD’s emergency services. Two housing developments are also currently being constructed on the south side of Rochelle.
“This is the busiest fire department I've ever worked with and our call volume has increased every year that I've been here,” City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said. “You have to have the appropriate level of staffing to meet those needs and help people.”
The grant required a lengthy application process led by Chief Dave Sawlsville and coordinated by RFD staff including Lt. Jason Underwood, Johnson and Firefighter Tyler Carls. Chris Cardott and the city’s finance department provided a significant amount of data to support the grant application.
Johnson said the grant process took 30-40 man hours of collecting information and writing narratives. The grant allows RFD to make the new hires immediately and help with costs will be seen. Interested applicants should visit the City of Rochelle website at www.cityofrochelle.net to begin the application process for testing. Applications must be received by Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. Applicants will then move onto a written test and oral interview. Qualifications and requirements are listed on the website.
“I can't overemphasize how hard our staff worked on this,” Sawlsville said. This was all Lt. Underwood, Firefighter Johnson, Firefighter Carls, and Finance Director Cardott and her department. This is a need-based grant. You show need with the city's finances. That group did all the work. Their collaboration on this was tremendous and it paid off huge.”
Sawlsville said the advertising and testing process will likely be completed by the end of September and then hiring off of that eligibility list will begin.
The RFD chief said he anticipates call numbers will continue to rise. The fire department has supplemented its staffing in the past with paid on-call firefighter/EMTs in recent years and will continue to do so, but a shortage of people willing to do that work has been seen. RFD has also used its paid on-call and part-time firefighter/EMT rosters for recruiting for full-time positions in the past.
Fiegenschuh said the potential of receiving the grant was first discussed during the negotiations of the last contract with RFD’s union. He said the city owes it to its residents to find outside money to help with expanding staff if it can. What’s more important to the city manager is that RFD is able to meet the needs of the community and that firefighter/EMTs have the time and support they need.
“Thanks to the folks who rolled up their sleeves and got the job done on this,” Sawlsville said. “Firefighter Johnson alone has brought over $1 million in successful grants to RFD. This grant will ensure that we can get firetrucks and ambulances out the door in the most efficient and safest way possible.”
