Great Falls Fire Rescue will be adding 16 new firefighters to their staff in 2009 after members of the City Commission threw their support behind the move at a special meeting held on Wednesday.

Fire Rescue had to determine this week whether or not they would accept a federal grant worth $1.7 million dollars.

Along with that Homeland Security grant, the city must commit to local funding for the new hires, which will cost the city more than $3 million dollars over five years. The 16 additional firefighters will bring Great Falls Fire Rescue up to national firefighting standards.

Chief Randy McCamley of Great Falls Fire Rescue was pleased with the Commission's decision: "I think this is a tremendous decision for the community and for the fire department. I think this is a tremendous investment in public safety and I would like to thanks the entire commission for their support."

Thanks to the unanimous support from the commission, the city is committed to paying over $300,000 this year and more than $1.2 million dollars by the fifth year of the agreement.