WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden was back in Philadelphia Monday to meet with firefighters in Fairmount to announce a multimillion-dollar federal grant that will allow the fire department to reopen three stations. He also hosted a campaign fundraiser in the city.
The Philadelphia Fire Department reactivated Ladder 1 Monday afternoon nearly 15 years after it was shut down, and Biden stopped by to help celebrate the restoration of service.
Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel gave the command and, moments later, word went out over fire radio.
"By orders of Commissioner Adam Thiel, Ladder 1 is officially returned to service."
Ladder 1 is one of seven companies shut down by then-Mayor Michael Nutter during the 2008 recession. It is the fifth to reopen with a federal grant. Two others — Engine 6 and Ladder 11 — will reopen next year.
Biden said restoring Ladder 1 was the culmination of a promise he made nearly two years ago after three adults and nine children were killed in a fire less than a mile away.
"God only knows if it would’ve been able to get there that much earlier, but maybe [it would’ve] saved some lives," he said.
Mayor Jim Kenney called the fire one of the worst days of his term.
“To watch all these brave firefighters try to save these kids, and they couldn’t do it, and I could see tears coming down their eyes — so I just want to let you know, I know what this means to you.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro said he was proud to have the president there for the reopening.
“The reopening of Ladder 1 is because we have a president that cares deeply about this community — deeply about public safety — and he came here today because he gives a damn.”
The White House said Philadelphia would receive $22.4 million to pay for 72 firefighters' salaries and benefits for three years. The money comes from the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program, which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and was made available through last year's budget.
After the reopening, Biden held a campaign fundraiser at the Penn’s Landing Hilton. He told donors Philadelphia was the backbone of his campaign and said his reelection in 2024 was crucial to saving democracy.