GREENSBURG (AP) — The city will hire six additional firefighters to cover the new Honda plant — at the company’s expense.

Honda Manufacturing of Indiana will compensate the city for the cost of providing around-the-clock protection to the plant, said Andrew Stoner, director of corporate affairs for the company.

The city will provide uniforms and turnout gear for the firefighters and pay for some of the training. The company will provide living space for the firefighters, a hazardous materials response cart and a mini-pump fire truck.

Stoner said the firefighter salaries will cost the company about $392,000 annually.

Greensburg Fire Chief Scott Chasteen said current firefighters should be able to choose whether they want to work at the plant.

“We’re not going to force anybody to do this,” he said.

Honda plans to produce Civic sedans at its factory on 1,700 acres along Interstate 74 about 50 miles southeast of Indianapolis. The $550 million project is on schedule to start in July, with mass production of the Civics starting this fall.

About 500 workers have been hired so far, and 2,000 associates will be hired by the end of 2009.