September 11, 2019

Mass. Congressional Delegation Announces Approximately $2.4 Million in Fire Department Grants

Shrewsbury Fire Dept. Awarded $570K to Hire Four New Firefighters

Boston, MA - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA), along with Representatives Richard E. Neal (D-MA-01), James P. McGovern (D-MA-02), William Keating (D-MA-09), Katherine Clark (D-MA-05) and Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded twelve fire departments in the Commonwealth nearly $2.4 million in federal grants through its Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate & Fire Emergency Response (SAFER) programs.

The AFG grants awarded to Massachusetts fire departments include:

  • $636,364 to the Provincetown Fire Department and 20 Cape Cod departments for a training prop/simulator.
  • $588,655 to the North Adams Fire Department and 11 northwest Massachusetts departments for 228 sets of firefighter protective gear.
  • $213,273 to the Worcester Fire Department for 23 thermal imaging cameras.
  • $95,455 to the Springfield Fire Department for seven protective gear washers.
  • $68,182 to the Hingham Fire Department for six thermal imaging cameras.
  • $63,637 to the Watertown Fire Department for an air compressor and breathing apparatus refill system.
  • $46,769 to the Pittsfield Fire Department for an air compressor and breathing apparatus refill system.
  • $37,546 to the Peabody Fire Department for two protective gear washers and two protective gear dryers.
  • $37,143 to the Southwick Fire Department for vehicle extrication equipment.
  • $22,363 to the South Hadley Fire District for a fire station diesel fume exhaust system.
  • $16,572 to the Plympton Fire Department for one protective gear washer and one protective gear dryer.

The SAFER grant was awarded to the following fire department:

  • $570,525 to the Shrewsbury Fire Department to hire four new firefighters.

"Today's anniversary of 9/11 reminds us of the importance of supporting our courageous first responders by providing them with the training, staffing, and equipment they need to keep communities in Massachusetts and across the nation safe," said Senator Warren. "I congratulate the recipients on this new funding, and I'm grateful for their dedicated service."

"Our Massachusetts fire departments are on the front lines of keeping our families safe, and we need to do everything we can to support its important work," said Senator Markey. "We have deep appreciation for these firefighters, and I congratulate all the cities in towns that have secured funding to ensure these brave first responders have the resources they need to do their jobs."

"I believe the brave firefighters in Massachusetts deserve the necessary federal funding to do their difficult jobs effectively. This assistance from FEMA will help the Springfield, Pittsfield, South Hadley and North Adams Fire Departments keep their communities safe. It is very good news for western Massachusetts," said Congressman Neal.

"These FEMA grants to the Worcester and Shrewsbury Fire Departments will help make sure that firefighters in central Massachusetts have the tools and personnel they need to keep our families safe," said Congressman McGovern. "As our nation pauses to remember those we lost on September 11th, 2001, we also pledge to remember the needs of our first responders by supporting them in every way we can. These federal dollars will have a positive and real impact on their safety and the safety of our communities."

"The regional grant for Cape Cod will build upon existing training opportunities as the Fire & Rescue Training Academy works to establish a long-term facility on the Cape and will provide a strong foundation for further development of the Academy," said Congressman Keating.

"Our firefighters put their lives on the line every single day. We owe it to them to ensure they have the resources needed to be safe on the job," said Congresswoman Clark. "This AFG grant will help ensure that Watertown's first responders are protected while they protect our community."

"I know what it's like to go into harm's way without the right equipment, like in those days in Iraq when we didn't have the right armor for ourselves or our trucks. We should expect better for the firefighters in our community. I'm glad these FEMA grants have come through, and I'll keep working to make sure firefighters always have the gear and training they need to do their jobs," said Congressman Seth Moulton.

More information about FEMA's fire grant programs is available here.

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