Local fire departments receive grants for safety equipment

Date: 12/21/2022

GREATER SPRINGFIELD – A total of 45 million in grant money was awarded to more than 300 fire departments throughout the state’s Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program. The program helps fund safety equipment for firefighters. This is the third year of a five that funding has been distributed from a five-year, $25 million bond bill.

“We ask so much of our firefighters, and no matter how dangerous or difficult the situation, they always do whatever it takes to help,” Gov. Charlie Baker said in a press release about the funding. “This program is an opportunity to make sure they are properly protected every time they answer a call for help.”

State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey said, “Every time a firefighter goes to work, they could be asked to rescue a child from a burning building, clean up a spill of hazardous materials, treat a patient with a contagious medical condition, or rush into a hostile event to rescue and treat victims. This program is absolutely vital to helping fire departments prepare for the vast array of hazards they face today and making sure that firefighters go home safe after every call.”

State Rep. Angelo Puppolo commented, “I am pleased to support this funding which will enhance the Wilbraham Fire Department and keep our dedicated firefighters safer.” State Rep. Brian Ashe echoed Puppolo’s comment, saying, “These vital tools and protective gear will ensure our firefighters are safe and will have the ability to respond to a wide variety of calls.”

The most common items requested were hoods, gloves, hoses and nozzles, ballistic vest and helmets, boots, coats. More technical gear, such as thermal imaging cameras and gas detectors were also requested.

More than 15 municipalities in Hampden County received grants that ranged from $8,942 to $41,375. The population of a municipality determined the ceiling on how much money could be requested.

East Longmeadow Fire Chief Paul Morrisette said his department is using the $19,000 grant to purchase body armor to be used in active shooter emergencies. “It is very unfortunate that we have to plan and prepare for these kinds of situations,” he said.

In addition to the $16,248 Firefighter Safety Equipment grant, Longmeadow also received a $4,600 grant from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Management Performance Grant program. The funding from both grants will replace aging firefighter protective clothing, Fire Chief John Dearborn said in a statement. “We are grateful to these state agencies for funding these programs,” read a statement from the department.

Fire Chief Michael Andrews of Wilbraham said his department plans to use the $18,892 from the grant to secure a full set of Jaws of Life for the department’s south station on Woodland Dell Road. The Jaws of Life are used to free people who are trapped in a vehicle after an accident. Last year, the Firefighter Safety Equipment grant was used to purchase the “cutters,” Andrews said. This year, the grant will fund the “spreaders.”

“Unfortunately, we do use [Jaws of Life] often, at least a couple times a year,” Andrews told Reminder Publishing. “We get some bad car accidents in Wilbraham, and we need to extricate people.” The grant will also fund a positive air pressure fan, which is used to ventilate structures and push out toxic fumes and gases.

The town of Hampden also received a grant worth $12,490.