EAST BRIDGEWATER — Chief Timothy Harhen is pleased to report that the East Bridgewater Fire Department received a $18,669.34 grant from the Department of Fire Services Fiscal Year 2024 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program.
The East Bridgewater Fire Department will use the funding to purchase a replacement hose, water supply equipment, portable radio batteries and a replacement ice rescue sled.
“We would like to thank the Department of Fire Services for awarding us this grant,” Chief Harhen said. “We look forward to using this grant to help fund essential equipment that will allow our firefighters to safely and efficiently carry out the tasks of their day-to-day jobs.”
Fire departments across Massachusetts were invited to apply to the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program, which provides reimbursement on purchases of 135 different types of eligible equipment. Eligible items include hoses and nozzles, turnout gear, ballistic protective equipment, gear washers and dryers, thermal imaging cameras, hand tools and extrication equipment, communications resources, hazardous gas meters, and more. In many cases, the purchase of this equipment will help departments attain compliance with Occupational Safety & Health Administration or National Fire Protection Association safety standards. This is the fourth year that funding has been awarded through the program.
“The Firefighter Safety Equipment Grants are an investment in the health and safety of Massachusetts firefighters,” said State Fire Marshal Jon 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.”
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