The Dayton Fire Department will receive a multi-million dollar grant through theOhio First Responder, Recruitment, Retention and Resilience Program launched by Governor DeWine.
This money will go toward recruiting more firefighters and expanding mental wellness programs for DFD personnel.
Last year, the fire department responded to over 40,000 incidents, the highest in its history. That’s 2000 more cases than 2017, the second highest year ever.
With the $5.8 million grant, the DFD will hire 30 more firefighters.
Brad French is with the fire department. He said this grant couldn't have come at a better time.
"It is in our staffing matrix to make sure that we're providing adequate response coverage across the city Of Dayton,”nFrench said. "It's really a win-win for all involved, both our members and the citizens.”
A key part of the grant is the mental wellness program, which includes hiring a full-time wellness coordinator for staff.
According to the American Psychological Association, firefighters are moreat risk for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder than the general population. They say 20% of firefighters pass the threshold for PTSD, compared to 6.8% in the general population.
The wellness program will provide mental health support to firefighters through regular counseling services and peer support resources.
