BRIDGETON ADDS NINE MEMBERS TO FIRE DEPT.
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BRIDGETON- Thanks to one million dollars in federal grants, a host of new firefighters and EMT's were sworn in for the city.

It was a historic night for the Bridgeton Fire Department to say the least, as they took a giant step forward by swearing in an usually high number of firefighters and EMT's to add to their current staff.

"Were swearing in 9 new firefighters and EMT's to supplement our current staff. We received over a million dollar safer grant to hire these people, and it is almost going to double our firefighter staff" says Captain David Shoch, Bridgeton Fire Dept.

"It has been a long time coming, I am 29 and have been trying to get in here for 10 years and it is nice to see hard work finally paying off" says Brandin O'Keefe, Firefighter

The department was awarded the federal safer grant 6 months ago, which has allowed them to upgrade a staff that has been shorthanded for years.

"When I took over as Chief in 1999, we had 12 career staff members and a handful of volunteers. Today with the addition of 9 new personnel it takes us to 29 firefighters and EMT's" says Shoch.

"We had a lot of vacancies that remained open that we were filling with overtime and part time help and this will actually bring our payroll down" says Todd Bowen, Battalion Chief, Bridgeton.

Officials say they receive about 6,000 calls a year between the fire and police departments, and that with these additions it gives them the opportunity to get their job done more efficiently.

"The more people you have the safer it is for firefighters, and the better it is for executing and saving property" says Shoch.

"It is very important because it is adding staff that is multi-dimensional with firefighters and EMT's" says Bowen.

"The city of Bridgeton really seems like they are moving in the right direction and I am proud to be a part of it" says O'Keefe.