Federal grant would help Wilmington firefighters

Wilmington has been offered a federal grant that would give $1.7 million to the fire department. The Federal Emergency Management Agency would pay firefighters’ salaries for the next two years.

The money would fill five vacant positions and cover the salaries of eight laid-off firefighters who’ve since returned to fill jobs vacated by others who have left, the Associated Press reports. City Council has not yet accepted the grant, which would reduce the department’s expenses by about $500,000 for the upcoming budget year.