NORTH READING — House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading), Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester) and North Reading Fire Chief Donald W. Stats, Jr. joined with the Healey-Driscoll Administration to announce that the North Reading Fire Department has been awarded a $13,591.34 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services.
According to Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy and State Fire Marshal Jon Davine, a total of $5 million in grant funding is being distributed to 321 fire departments across Massachusetts as reimbursement for the purchase of critical safety gear and equipment. North Reading’s grant award will be used to support the fire department’s purchase of the following items:
- Accountability Board/Mobile Command Console
- Li-lon Battery/Storage Drum
- Li-lon Fire Blanket
- Li-lon Fire Extinguishing Agent
- Roadway/Highway Safety Equipment
- Rescue Saw/Chain Saw
- Handheld Thermal Imager
“I am extremely grateful that the State and Department of Fire Services recognizes the job and inherent dangers that firefighters face while performing our duties and the importance of assisting to provide critical pieces of equipment to that end,” said Chief Stats. “I believe this program is important to North Reading and the surrounding communities, who provide mutual aid to one another, and continues to be funded and supported by the State Fire Marshal Jon Davine, through the Department of Fire Services. I’m also grateful to Rep. Brad Jones and Sen. Bruce Tarr for their continuing support of providing these funds to firefighters.”
“North Reading’s firefighters play a critical role in protecting the public while working under what are often very stressful and hazardous conditions,” said Representative Jones. “These grants fill an essential need by ensuring our first responders have access to the proper turnout gear, tools and equipment to help make their jobs safer and allow them to better serve the public.”
“Firefighters put themselves in harm’s way on a regular basis, exposing themselves to dangerous conditions and situations to protect us,” said Senator Tarr. “Being equipped with proper gear and training can make the difference between life and death for these dedicated responders, and these grants will go a long way in helping communities support them.”
The Firefighter Safety Equipment Grants are part of a five-year, $25 million state bond authorization designed to improve fire safety across the state. This marks the fourth year funding has been awarded to the Commonwealth’s fire departments under this competitive grant program.
“The Firefighter Safety Equipment Grants are an investment in the health and safety of Massachusetts firefighters,” said Davine. “The flexibility of the program is especially valuable because it allows each department to make purchases based on their specific needs and resources. It has become a vital part of the way the Massachusetts fire service prepares for the constantly evolving threats in the world around us.”
The maximum amount of the grants made available to local fire departments under this program is capped based on the size of the population the department serves. Many of the equipment purchases funded through this grant program enable local fire departments to achieve compliance with Occupational Safety Health Administration or National Fire Protection Association safety standards.