EAST BRIDGEWATER — Fire Chief Timothy Harhen is pleased to announce that the East Bridgewater Fire Department has received two federal grants recently, to purchase new equipment both to help firefighters in their duties and also to help combat against COVID-19.
The department received a FEMA 2019 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in the amount of $43,785.71 to replace two outdated sets of hydraulic extrication tools. This rescue equipment will be installed on the department’s new Tower truck, which was approved at the June Town Meeting.
The second grant is a FEMA 2019 AFG-COVID-19 Supplemental Grant, in the amount of $18,276.63, to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect firefighters/EMTs and paramedics from contracting COVID-19 from patients who are transported.
Since 2014, the East Bridgewater Fire Department has received $443,879.10 in FEMA AFG grants for various, mission critical equipment, including the replacement of all self-contained breathing apparatus to the newest and latest edition of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) specifications.
“We are grateful to FEMA for receiving both of these grants, as the equipment will be used to help our firefighters better do their jobs and keep our first responders safe,” Chief Harhen said. “It is especially important to be receiving additional personal protective equipment at this time, as the COVID-19 pandemic is still something we must be vigilant about whenever we interact with the community.”
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