Quinn Kelly
Wicked Local South/Mariner, Marshfield, Mass.
(MCT)
Jan. 28—In a recent round of state funding, Cohasset Fire Department has been awarded a grant towards the procurement of new firefighter safety equipment.
Fire Chief Robert Silvia recently announced that Cohasset would be one of over 300 departments across the state awarded the grant as part of the Department of Fire Services Fiscal Year 2022 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program.
Totaling over $12,000, the grant will be used to purchase new batteries for portable radios, a new charging station for said batteries, and additional SCBA facemasks.
Funding totaling $5 million was granted across the state in the program.
The program, now in its second year, is part of a $25 million bond filed by the Baker-Polito Administration to support firefighter safety and health in the coming years.
Aimed at enabling Massachusetts departments to purchase a variety of equipment to make firefighters’ jobs safer, departments were given the ability to apply for 118 different types of equipment, allowing each to receive help specific to their needs.
Other equipment provided included 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.
The efforts also aid in bringing departments up to code with Occupational Safety and Health Administration or National Fire Protection Association safety standards.
Several other South Shore fire departments received funds in the grant, including Abington, Braintree, Carver, Duxbury, Hanover, Kingston, Marshfield, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Quincy, Randolph, Rockland, and neighboring Hingham, Hull, and Scituate.
“Our communities and families depend on firefighters in difficult and dangerous moments,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This program is an opportunity to show our deep appreciation for their work by ensuring they have the tools they need to stay safe and healthy.”
“The job of the modern firefighter takes countless forms. At any given moment, they could be asked to respond to a fire, a hazardous materials leak, a car accident, or a medical call. Equipping them for safety in each of these situations is a significant financial burden for every department,” said Centerville-Osterville-Marston Mills Fire Chief Michael Winn, President of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Massachusetts. “We are so thankful that funding was made available to help with this challenge, especially at a time when so many departments are facing budget issues due to COVID-19.”
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