For Immediate Release

Friday, Dec. 13, 2019

Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Acton Fire Announces Grant Awards for Firefighter Turnout Gear and Gear Washer Extractor

ACTON — Chief Robert Hart is pleased to announce that the Acton Fire Department has received a $4,644 Firefighter Turnout Gear Grant and a $6,416.73 Washer-Extractor Equipment Grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) and the Department of Fire Services (DFS). 

These programs aim to reduce the amount of cancer-causing chemicals that firefighters are exposed to in the course of their work by providing them with modern protective gear to wear while fighting fires, and modern gear washing machines to clean contaminants from their gear before they wear it to the next emergency.

The Acton Fire Department will use this funding to purchase protective hoods for personal protection during firefighting operations, and one washer-extractor for gear cleaning.

“Occupational cancer is one of the serious long-term effects of an already dangerous job,” Chief Hart said. “We are thankful to the Baker-Polito administration for making these grants available to help us purchase the latest gear and equipment that will help us protect our firefighters for many years to come.”

“We now know that the risk of occupational cancers is among the greatest threats faced by modern firefighters. Providing firefighters with new gear to wear and establishing regular and effective gear washing programs are two of the most valuable actions we can take to reduce future cancer diagnosis,” said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey. “We are thankful that the Commonwealth has made this a priority and invested in the advancement of the ongoing cancer prevention efforts of fire departments across the state.”

Funding for this grant program was made available through the Baker-Polito administration for fire departments across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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