Press Releases
Congresswoman Lori Trahan Announces Nearly $1 million in Grants to Aid Fitchburg and Ashburnham Fire Departments, Massachusetts State Fire Training Academy
Washington,
September 9, 2019
ASHBURNHAM, FITCHBURG, and STOW, MA – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded 2 fire departments and the Massachusetts State Fire Training Academy in Massachusetts’ Third Congressional District approximately $941,828 in federal grants.
The funding, which was announced at the end of last week, was awarded through FEMA's Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) program and will help provide the critical resources required to train and equip emergency personnel in order to meet official standards, increase efficiency and interoperability, and help make departments and the communities they serve more resilient.
“Our first responders put their lives on the line every single day to protect our families, friends, and neighbors. Federal investments in their health and safety are critical. As a result, I will always offer my support for these types of grants,” said Congresswoman Lori Trahan. “This AFG grant funding will help provide the necessary resources to equip and train firefighters in Fitchburg and Ashburnham as well as firefighters at the Massachusetts State Fire Training Academy so they can meet the needs of their communities. I would like to congratulate everyone involved in securing this important funding and thank them for their dedication and hard work.”
“This federal grant will help us with the breathing equipment purchase that was recently made and will keep our firefighters safe when entering burning buildings, and the cardiac monitor that the grant provides for will replace a unit that is 18 years old that will no longer be serviced by the manufacturer after January of 2020. This could not have come at a better time,” said Ashburnham Fire Chief James Cleveland.
“The Fitchburg Fire Department is very grateful for receiving a FEMA/AFG grant for 81 sets of new ‘Turnout Gear’ for all our Firefighters. We would like to thank our Federal Representatives and Senators as well as Mayor DiNatale and our City Council, for their support of this grant. We would also like to recognize Captain Patrick Roy and Firefighter Matt Glenny for their great work on this grant application. The protection of our firefighters when responding to fires and other hazardous situations, is always one of our top priorities. Thanks to all that made this grant successful,” said Fitchburg Fire Chief Kevin D. Roy.
“This grant for a search and rescue training prop will help the Department of Fire Services improve firefighters’ access to quality training facilities across the Commonwealth. We appreciate Congresswoman Trahan’s support,” said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey.
### |