Fall River Fire Dept. Awarded Nearly $1.4M in Federal Funds

Washington (August 17, 2018) - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey, along with Representatives Stephen F. Lynch, William Keating, Joseph P. Kennedy III and Seth Moulton, announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded eight fire departments in Massachusetts over $2.5 million in federal grants, including nearly $1.4 million in federal grants to the Fall River Fire Department. Six fire departments received funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program, while two fire departments were awarded funding through the Staffing for Adequate & Fire Emergency Response (SAFER) program.  Additionally, one fire department was awarded a grant through the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) program.

The AFG grants awarded to Massachusetts fire departments include:

• $416,366 to the Fall River Fire Department for a haz mat training program.
• $168,800 to the Middleton Fire Department for a firefighter breathing apparatus.
• $146,507 to the Hingham Fire Department for three chest compression devices and three ambulance stretcher load systems.
• $75,281 to the Abington Fire Department for vehicle extrication equipment.
• $19,182 to the New Bedford Fire Department for haz mat monitoring equipment.
• $16,364 to the Wakefield Fire Department for vehicle extrication equipment.

The SAFER grants awarded to Massachusetts fire departments include:

• $965,626 to the Fall River Fire Department to hire five new firefighters.
• $717,800 to the Beverly Fire Department to hire four new firefighters.

The FP&S grant was awarded to the following fire department:

• $35,000 to the Brewster Fire Department for the purchase of a mobile fire safety/all hazards training simulator.

"Across the Commonwealth, our brave first responders are working each and every day to protect our families and neighborhoods," said Senator Elizabeth Warren. "These grants will ensure that they have the staff, training, and equipment they need to continue safeguarding our communities while staying safe themselves."

"This critical funding will ensure that the Commonwealth's firefighters are well-equipped to keep residents safe and secure and that we put more of these brave first responders on the job," said Senator Edward J. Markey.  "I applaud all of the local leaders for their tireless efforts to secure these grants and for making our first responders a top priority."

"As a result of these grants, the citizens of Hingham and Abington will greatly benefit from this new safety equipment.  Our dedicated firefighters and ambulance personnel will be better equipped to face the day-to-day challenges of protecting our communities and saving lives," said Congressman Stephen F. Lynch.  "I am grateful to Hingham's Fire Chief Steve Murphy and Abington's Fire Chief John Nuttall for their leadership and commitment to public safety, as well as Senators Warren and Markey for their help in securing these grants."

"These grants, including almost $1.4 million in federal funds for Fall River alone, ensure that our fire fighters in Southeast Massachusetts will be well trained and equipped to handle any crisis from the South Coast to the Lower Cape," said Congressman Bill Keating. "Our first responders safeguard our communities, and deserve the proper equipment to protect themselves while in harm's way."

"As stewards of our safety, firefighters risk life and limb to protect our neighborhoods day and night," said Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III. "With five new firefighters and a new haz mat training program, the Fall River Fire Department will be better prepared as they continue their mission to care for their neighbors. I congratulate Chief Lynch and the entire department on this much-needed grant."

"We've worked hard for these grants and we'll keep working hard for more," said Congressman Seth Moulton. "Investing in our firefighters is investing in our local communities. We rely on their hard work, and they deserve our support."

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