Washington (February 28, 2023) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass) announced that the Lawrence Fire Department will receive more than $800,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as part of FEMA’s Fiscal Year 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grants program. Lawrence will use the funding to replace outdated infrastructure, including a firetruck ladder and train, to ensure their safety standards are in line with the latest guidance from the National Fire Protection Association. Lawrence is one of the fast-growing and most diverse cities in Massachusetts, and this critical federal funding comes at a time when the fire department has experienced a growing need to expand and modernize its emergency services. 

“Firefighters deserve no less than state of the art resources that fully equip them to protect the health and safety of our families, friends, and neighbors in Massachusetts,” said Senator Markey. “These critical investments will help our firefighters climb the ladder of success. I am proud to have helped secure this funding for Lawrence, and I will continue to push for investments that alleviate the everyday struggle our firefighters experience as they work hard to keep our communities safe.”

“The brave men and women of the Lawrence Fire Department put themselves at risk every day to protect us, and it’s critical to ensure they have the resources they need to do their job in the safest way possible,” said Lawrence Mayor Brian A. DePeña. “I’m grateful that this grant will help the department make critical equipment updates that will have a lasting impact on the safety of our community. On behalf of the city of Lawrence, I look forward to continue working with our federal partners to ensure our fire department has the appropriate training, equipment, and resources they need to continue protecting our community.”

“I want to thank Senator Markey for his assistance in this process,” said Lawrence Fire Department Chief Brian Moriarty. “His support and the support of the Mayor go a long way in making the city safer with this equipment. Apparatus is a big part of firefighter safety and citizen safety. We can have faster response times, reduce time to get water on fires, and save lives. When we keep our apparatus up to today’s standards, we will have less down time for maintenance. This will be a great improvement in safety.”

Last April, Senator Markey sent a letter to FEMA supporting comprehensive funding for the Lawrence Fire Department to modernize its equipment and maintain up-to-date safety regulations. To date, Massachusetts fire departments have received more than $45 million in Fiscal Year 2021 funding through FEMA’s fire department assistance programs: Staffing For Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants, Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), and Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S) grants.