BOSTON, MA — Multiple Fire Departments across the South Shore were recently awarded funding through the FY22 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program. The program enables fire departments to purchase a variety of equipment that will make firefighters’ jobs safer. This is the second year that funding has been awarded for this purpose as part of a $25 million bond bill filed by the Baker-Polito Administration to support firefighter safety and health in the coming years.

The funding breakdown of the $111,008.45 awarded to the South Shore may be found below:

“I am very grateful for the work our firefighters do every day, and it’s good to know that this grant funding will help protect them when they’re out protecting the community,” said State Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth).

“With this money, the Department will purchase a new thermal imager camera for Engine 2, four new multi-gas meters, and four ice rescue suits and rescue ropes,” said Weymouth Fire Chief Keith Stark. “The purchase of this safety equipment will allow firefighters to do the job safer, and that’s what it is all about.”

“While this equipment is essential, we are most excited about the turnout gear dryer.  Firefighter cancer has become a hot topic over the last several years, and many different initiatives across the country are trying to address this life-changing diagnosis to our firefighters,” said Hingham Fire Department Deputy Chief Louis Lachance. “We encourage all of our members to wash their firefighting gear after each fire to remove contaminants and carcinogens; currently, our department has two gear-washers to clean the equipment. Unfortunately, we cannot dry the gear effectively other than hanging it up, which could take several days to completely dry. This new piece of equipment will dry six sets of gear at once, allowing it to be placed back in service for use sooner.”

“This grant funding will be used for firefighter protective clothing and is very important to us in carrying out our mission,” said Duxbury Fire Chief Kevin Nord. “Although, we are all responding to the pandemic as EMS providers, the recent loss of life, especially children, in New York City and Philadelphia reminds us that fire prevention and fire suppression are still main mission components, and we need to protect our firefighters with the best gear available.”

“I would like to thank all the legislators from the Governor’s office to the local senator and representatives for their efforts in facilitating this funding to improve and upgrade our safety equipment,” said Scituate Fire Chief John Murphy. “This equipment will enhance our firefighters’ ability to serve our communities with the best equipment available - making it safer for our firefighters and those we respond to on a daily basis.”

Fire departments in Massachusetts were able to apply to this program for 118 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. In many cases, the purchase of this equipment will help departments attain compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration or National Fire Protection Association safety standards.

“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.”

Grant applications were scored based on the type of equipment being requested and the reason it is being requested. The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services assigned equipment priority levels to each type of allowable equipment, and applicants selected from a menu the reason their department needs such equipment. Higher scoring applications received higher award amounts.

A complete list of the awards by department can be found here.