WEST NEWBURY — Chief Michael Dwyer is pleased to announce that the West Newbury Fire Department is one of nearly 300 fire departments across the state to have been awarded a grant as part of the Department of Fire Services Fiscal Year 2021 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program.
The $10,000 grant awarded to the West Newbury Fire Department will be used to support the replacement of the town’s current vehicle extrication rescue equipment, which is more than 20 years old.
“We’re very thankful for this funding, which will allow us to purchase a much needed upgrade to life saving equipment,” Chief Dwyer said. “Technology has changed greatly over the past 20 years and this equipment is a key asset to ensuring we are able to assist people swiftly and effectively in emergencies like motor vehicle crashes.”
The West Newbury Fire Department also recognizes that these investments are ultimately citizen funded and strives to always use any funding available to best serve and protect the community.
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 firefighter health and safety over the next five years.
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.”
A complete list of the awards by department can be found here.
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