Easthampton Fire Department Awarded Over $600k to Hire Four New Firefighters

Boston, MA - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA), along with Representatives James P. McGovern (D-MA-02), William Keating (D-MA-09), Joseph P. Kennedy III (D-MA-04), Katherine Clark (D-MA-05), and Seth Moulton (D-MA-06) today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded over $5.8 million in federal grants to aid Massachusetts firefighters.

Awarded through FEMA's Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG), Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants and Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S) Grants programs, this funding will help provide the Commonwealth's firefighters with the support they need to protect our communities.

The AFG grants were awarded to the following cities and towns:

• Waltham, MA - $596,823 for 74 firefighter breathing apparatus.
• Stow, MA - $500,000 for a firefighting training structure at the Massachusetts State Fire Training Academy.
• Auburn, MA - $477,273 - A regional grant with 11 central MA towns for a firefighting training structure.
• Topsfield, MA - $429,715 - A regional grant with Topsfield, Essex, and Middleton MA for 90 portable radios.
• Marion, MA - $297,143 for a 2,500 gallon tanker truck.
• Chelsea, MA - $259,091 for 57 portable radios.
• Fitchburg, MA - $235,637 for 81 sets of firefighter protective gear.
• Ware, MA - $215,054 for 32 firefighter breathing apparatus.
• Ashburnham, MA - $206,191 for 26 firefighter breathing apparatus and a cardiac monitor.
• Dennis, MA - $152,381 for four power stretchers and ambulance lift systems.
• Foxborough, MA - $138,728 - A regional grant with Foxborough and Mansfield for a firefighting hose and vehicle extrication equipment.
• Brookfield, MA - $133,562 for 18 firefighter breathing apparatus.
• West Barnstable, MA - $120,307 for seven mobile radios and 20 portable radios.
• Orange, MA- $92,858 for a firefighting hose, nozzles and two thermal imaging cameras.
• Harwich, MA - $89,308 for vehicle extrication equipment.
• New Ashford, MA - $86,667 for 13 firefighter breathing apparatus.
• Middleton, MA - $42,858 for vehicle extrication equipment.
• Longmeadow, MA - $33,143 for 12 sets of firefighter protective gear.
• North Adams, MA - $11,905 for five automatic external cardiac defibrillators.
• Easthampton, MA - $8,572 for a firefighter protective gear dryer.

The SAFER grant was awarded to the following city:

• Easthampton, MA - $604,706 to hire four new firefighters.

The FP&S grants were awarded to the following organizations:

• National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA - $922,128 to fund a research and development projects studying preventing cooking fires and the use of drones in the fire service.
• Fire Protection Research Foundation, Quincy, MA - $186,667 to fund a research and development project "Economic and emotional impact of an Active Shooter."

"Firefighters across Massachusetts and the country put their lives on the line for our communities every single day. We owe it to them to ensure they have the federal resources they need to continue safeguarding these communities," said Senator Warren. "These FEMA grants will help us achieve that goal and I will continue fighting on behalf of our first responders."

"Massachusetts is the Bay State, and our firefighters and first responders make it the Brave State," said Senator Markey. "This federal funding will help our fire departments across the Commonwealth keep their communities safe and secure with the equipment, training, and support they need. I congratulate the recipients for all of their efforts securing these grants and express my gratitude for their service on the front lines keeping Massachusetts safe."

"I'm so grateful for the around-the-clock work and dedication of our first responders," said Congressman Jim McGovern. "Just as firefighters keep us safe every day, we need to make sure they have the resources and training they need to do their job safely and effectively. I'm proud of the local leaders in Auburn, Ware and Orange who helped to secure these vital federal funds. This is fantastic news - these grants will have a real and lasting impact on the safety of our communities."

"These additional grants will continue to provide necessary support for our fire departments and are a win for our communities," said Congressman Keating. "We are all safer when our firefighters have the proper equipment to help them do their job effectively and efficiently while also keeping them safe."

"More than just bravery and courage, firefighters are defined by a selfless, unconditional commitment to keep their neighbors safe," said Congressman Kennedy. "As our Commonwealth's firefighters work day and night to protect us, this grant funding will enhance and modernize the training and equipment necessary to protect them."

"This is great news for the Waltham community," said Congresswoman Clark. "Fire Chief Thomas MacInnis and our dedicated firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep our community safe and this crucial federal grant will ensure that they are safe while saving lives."

"I know what it's like to go into harm's way without the right equipment, like in those days in Iraq when we didn't have the right armor for ourselves or our trucks. We should expect better for the firefighters in our community. I'm glad these FEMA grants have come through, and I'll keep working to make sure firefighters always have the gear and training they need to do their jobs," said Congressman Moulton.

More information about FEMA's fire grant programs is available here.

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