Homeland Security grant of $72,000 awarded to Fire Department
Date: 1/17/2013
By Chris Maza
chrism@thereminder.comLONGMEADOW — The Longmeadow Fire Department was recently awarded a grant to aid in the purchase of new equipment.
The Assistance to Fire Fighters grant, which is administered through the Department of Homeland Security, was presented to the department and Fire Chief Eric Madison by Congressman Richard Neal on Jan. 9.
Longmeadow was one of 10 Massachusetts communities in 2012 to receive the grant, which has been awarded annually since 2001.
"This is a grant that came available through legislation called the Fire Act," Madison said. "There are various categories and various kinds of equipment that you can apply for. We apply for this grant every year and we're very happy we received it."
The grant of roughly $72,000 will be used to buy new hoses and appliances, Madison said.
"For lack of a better term, the appliances are the gadgets that are used to help us get the water to and from our apparatus," he explained.
The federal government will provide the department with $69,100 through the grant and the town must supply the remaining $3,636.
Madison couldn't say how much influence Neal had in helping the department secure the grant, but did say that he has been a supporter of the Assistance to Fire Fighters program.
"The congressman has been very supportive of this grant," he said. "Every few years it comes up to be reauthorized and he had voted for it every time, so in that respect, he has been a great supporter."
