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At the Nov. 4 meeting of Albemarle City Council, Fire Chief Kenny Kendall announced that the city has qualified to receive a $1.8 million grant from SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
According to Kendall, 191 fire departments across the nation were funded with grants totaling $360 million following an exhaustive application process.
“We applied for these funds in 2021, but were unsuccessful,” the chief recalled. “Then, in 2023, we were notified that we were again eligible to apply, which we did. We recently received a phone call telling us that we had been awarded the grant.”
Kendall noted that the funds Albemarle would receive will be used to add full-time firefighting staff.
“(The grant) will fund a total of 10 full-time firefighting positions,” he said. “This will account for three additional firefighters per shift, as well as an assistant fire marshal.”
Kendall outlined two major benefits Albemarle will experience as a result of the grant, including an improved ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating, in addition to preparation for future growth.
“Back in 2020, we (Albemarle Fire Department) were able to improve our ISO rating from a class 4 to a class 3,” he said. “We were 5.59 points short of a class 2 rating. With the increase in staffing the grant will provide, we will be able to send additional firefighters as well as a ladder truck on all structure fire calls. That would improve our ISO score to a class 2.”
Better ISO scores will benefit Albemarle residents and businesses by resulting in lower fire insurance rates, said Kendall.
“The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standard for structure fire response is 16 firefighters. Currently, we are only able to send 14, and that is sometimes reduced when firefighters are away on training, vacations or sick leave. This would enable us to meet the NFPA standard.”
Kendall noted that another benefit the SAFER grant would provide is to enable the department to better plan and prepare for growth. Increased call volumes and coverage of newly-added residences and recently-added properties will be addressed by the grant funds as well.
“Call volume has gone up over the past three years,” the chief related, “resulting in an average of about 150 additional calls each year. The city has also annexed 955 acres, and approved the construction of 3,800 additional homes and townhouses. The grant will help us solve staffing issues both presently and in the future.”
The grant funds will also enable the city to begin planning for a future fourth fire station, said Kendall.
“This need will be covered in the city’s comprehensive land use plan,” he noted.
At the request of Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Sue Hall, Kendall noted details of the grant funding, including approved uses (firefighter salaries and benefits), length of the grant term (three years) and whether a local funding match would be required (no).
No action was taken by the council regarding the grant funding, pending a special session with the city’s financial advisors on Nov. 12. A decision by council on whether to accept the grant must be made no later than Nov. 23.
In other business, Albemarle City Council:
• Conducted three public hearings on zoning map amendments, subsequently approving two of the amendments in full, and one in part.
• Received an update on progress of repairs and renovations to units operated by the city’s department of public housing.
• Met in closed session to discuss real estate and personnel matters.
The council will meet in a special called session on Nov. 12 at 4 p.m. at the E.E. Waddell Community Center. The next regular meeting will be held on Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Toby Thorpe is a freelance writer for The Stanly News & Press.