Atlantic City prepares to layoff 51 fire personnel without grant money

With 51 fewer firefighters, that would mean closing two to three of the 11 companies per shift or as many as six companies in a 24-hour period

Press of Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Layoff notices are expected to go out soon for 51 Atlantic City firefighters hired under a federal grant.

The two-year Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant was awarded in 2011 as a way to boost the number of personnel able to respond to fires, including returning 30 firefighters who had been laid off as part of major budget cuts at the end of 2010.

While the time span for the $9.7 million grant ran out this May, there was still $3.5 million unspent. The city was given permission to use that money until Nov. 4. They asked for an extension until Nov. 30, hoping to buy time until a new grant the city already applied for is approved. On Friday, that request was tentatively denied. That means the city is already within the 45 days required to notify personnel of potential layoffs.

Full story: Atlantic City prepares to layoff 51 fire personnel without grant