The Auburn City Fire Department may have to lay off as many as five firefighters as a large grant expires in September. Fire Chief Mark D’Ambrogi says the almost 682,000 dollar SAFER Grant, which stands for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, allowed the Auburn Department to staff two engines and respond more quickly to emergency calls.
Click here to listen to Chief D’Ambrogi

The five firefighters also allowed the department to provide more public education program and services.
Click here to listen to Chief D’Ambrogi

Chief D’Ambrogi is working with City Council members an other city officials to try and identify additional funding to help reduce the cuts. The SAFER Grant program is highly competitive and with reduced federal funding, less grants are awarded each year. In Nevada County, Higgins Fire District was successful in obtaining a grant allowing them to reopen Station 23 on McCourtney Road full time for the next two years.