MANASSAS, Va. (AP) - The Manassas City Council is using a federal grant to bring the city's fire and rescue department in line with national staffing standards.

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The Washington Post reports that the city's fire chief plans to hire 12 people with a $1.4 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant. Manassas Fire Chief Brett Bowman says the funding will cover the positions for two years, and the city will then fund them in 2014.

Bowman says the grants help departments to increase staffing in critical operating units. He says the search for new employees has already begun and that officials hope to have people hired within the upcoming months.

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Information from: http://www.washingtonpost.com