ATHENS, Tenn. — Fire Chief Bob Miller said Athens did not get a grant it had applied for to help pay new firefighters’ salaries, but he’s planning to hire two people anyway in the upcoming fiscal year.

With one person hired this year, he said, the city’s firefighting force will be up to 23.

“I am pleased to get the additional manpower,” Chief Miller said.

He said the two new positions along with the recent hire will allow one more firefighter on each shift. Currently there are six per shift to man two stations.

The city had applied for a grant from a program called SAFER, or Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response.

The city is trying to beef up the fire department after a downgrade from the Insurance Services Organization. The ISO said the city had not bought enough equipment or hired enough firefighters to adequately protect city residents.

The department can pull from a volunteer force when firefighters are sick or on vacation, but sometimes they have to work with reduced manpower, city officials have said.

Besides the promised new firefighters, the department has a new combination aerial/pumper truck.

City Personnel Director Rita Brown said the two new positions are posted inside city government and are being advertised. She said she hopes to interview candidates this month.

Councilman Dick Pelley, who heads a fire study group, said he had hoped to add the two extra firefighters late last year.

He has said even more are needed, but he called the two additions a step in the right direction.

“I am happy that they are being added,” Mr. Pelley said.

There are plans to build a third fire station, which will mean hiring even more firefighters, City Manager Mitchell Moore told the council at a recent meeting.

According to studies, the coverage areas of the existing stations at City Hall and along U.S. Highway 11 overlap, while areas where growth has occurred are too far out for quick response.

Ms. Brown expects the new firefighters to begin training in July.