North Reading FD Awarded State Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant

North Reading MA

14 January, 2022

10:58 AM

Description

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) recently joined with the Baker-Polito Administration to announce the North Reading Fire Department has been awarded a Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant totaling $14,264.71 from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. North Reading was among 306 Massachusetts fire departments to be approved for funding under the program, which is designed to assist communities with the purchase of personal protective and safety equipment that meets the safety standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Under the grant program, 118 different types of equipment are eligible for funding, including personal protective clothing, thermal imaging cameras, hazardous gas detectors, and extrication equipment. Some of the most popular items funded through the program include helmets, hoods, gloves, coats and boots. "With this grant funding, North Reading will be able to make critical public safety upgrades to ensure the protective equipment used by its firefighters is in full compliance with the latest industry standards," said Representative Jones. "Firefighters face many on-the-job hazards while protecting the public, so it's important we do everything we can to help make their jobs safer." "We depend on firefighters to keep us safe, and they depend on having modern, reliable and trustworthy gear to protect themselves and respond effectively in our times of need," said Senator Tarr. "That is why funding these grants is a continuing priority for me and my legislative colleagues, and deploying them is important to the Baker-Polito Administration. The National Fire Protection Association and others confirm that having up-to-date tools like turnout gear, extrication tools, lighting, and communications equipment makes our communities safer." "Best practices for firefighter safety are constantly evolving as technology advances and our understanding of the short- and long-term health impacts of the work improves," said State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey. "This program is so important to help fire departments modernize their equipment and get firefighters the protection they need. The long-term health outcomes realized from these grant awards will have a truly immeasurable benefit." The Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program was established under Chapter 151 of the Acts of 2020, An Act financing the general governmental infrastructure of the Commonwealth, which set aside $25 million in funding. A total of $5 million in grants were approved statewide in the latest funding round, which marks the second year in which grants have been awarded.