Local cities navigate ending of COVID firefighter funding

While COVID created challenges for people to complete their everyday lives, for local municipalities, it created a job shortage in essential areas, including firefighters. Years after the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER grant, was awarded in the Capital Region, officials are now dealing with the funding coming to an end. In Troy, Mayor Carmella Mantello says the funding was used to hire 14 new firefighters.