New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Nearly 300 fire departments across the state have been awarded a grant as part of the Department of Fire Services Fiscal Year 2021 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program.
This program enables fire departments to purchase a variety of equipment that will make firefighters’ jobs safer. The $4 million awarded to departments statewide is part of a $25 million bond bill filed by the Baker-Polito Administration to support firefighters’ health and safety over the next five years.
The grant awards for the SouthCoast are as follows:
• Acushnet: $15,000
• Dartmouth Fire District One: $14,785
• Dartmouth Fire District No. 3: $14,994
• Lakeville: $15,000
• Fall River: $25.611
• New Bedford: $25,052.65
• Marion: $10,000
• Mattapoisett: $12,500
• Rochester: $12,500
• Wareham: $15,000
• Westport: $14,343
Fire departments in Massachusetts were able to apply to this program for 114 different types of eligible equipment, including personal protective clothing, gear washers and dryers, thermal imaging cameras, assorted hand tools and extrication equipment, communications resources, hazardous gas meters, fitness equipment, and more.
“Investing in the short-term and long-term health and safety of firefighters has been a hallmark of the Baker-Polito Administration,” said State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey. “I am grateful that we are able to continue supporting this initiative and make sure that firefighters not only go home safe at the end of every shift, but also that they maintain their health during and after their careers. This funding couldn’t come at a better time either. With the financial challenges that COVID-19 has brought to so many Massachusetts municipalities, this grant funding will mitigate critical budget gaps in many departments.”
