Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) along with  Representatives Richard E. Neal (D-MA-01), James P. McGovern (D-MA-02), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA-08), William Keating (D-MA-09), Joseph P. Kennedy III (D-MA-04), Katherine Clark (D-MA-05), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07) and Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)  announced $2,952,665 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants to support training and equipment needs at twenty-five Massachusetts fire departments. 

Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) funding was established through FEMA for the purpose of supporting fire departments. These grants will aid recipient fire departments in obtaining critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources. 

The following Massachusetts Fire Departments will receive grants from FEMA: 

• Barre, MA - $82,762 for vehicle extrication equipment
• Beverly, MA - $165,909 for portable and mobile radios
• Brewster, MA - $28,950 for vehicle extrication equipment
• Canton, MA - $103,091 for wellness & fitness equipment
• Chelsea, MA - $315,153 for Hazardous Materials training
• Eastham, MA - $47,714 for an air compressor - air refill system
• Falmouth, MA - $194,182 for 2 - power stretchers, 2 - ambulance power load systems, and an air compressor system
• Gardner, MA - $248,182 for firefighter breathing apparatus
• Onset Fire District, Wareham, MA - $69,856 for an air compressor-air refill system
• Quincy, MA -$104,482 for firefighter personal escape systems and firefighter training
• Rockland, MA - $67,120 for Active Shooter - Mass Casualty training
• Scituate, MA - $60,000 for 7 - Thermal Imaging Cameras
• Seekonk, MA - $42,857 for 5 - Thermal Imaging Cameras
• Sherborn, MA - $140,000 for firefighter breathing apparatus
• Somerville, MA - $254,840 for Hazardous Materials training
• Tewksbury, MA - $43,552 for Fire Instructor training.
• Topsfield, MA - $11,333 for 7 - automatic cardiac defibrillators
• Truro, MA -$134,269 for 2 - power stretchers and 2 - ambulance power load systems
• Waltham, MA - $328,587 for fire officer training
• Warwick, MA - $80,000 for firefighter breathing apparatus
• West Springfield, MA -$40,909 for 5 - Thermal Imaging Cameras
• Westwood, MA - $56,190 for a firefighter wellness & fitness program
• Wilbraham, MA - $128,571 for 3 - power stretchers and stretcher - ambulance load systems
• Wrentham, MA - $91,429 for a fire sprinkler system for their headquarters station
• Yarmouth, MA - $112,727 for vehicle extrication equipment

"Our brave firefighters are out on the front lines each day working to keep our families safe, and it's up to us to make sure they have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively," said Senator Warren. "These federal dollars will help ensure that our firefighters have the staffing, training and equipment necessary to continue protecting our communities in the safest way possible."

"Firefighters in Massachusetts have earned our unyielding support for the sacrifices they make each day to keep our Massachusetts families safe," said Senator Markey. Our cities and towns will benefit from these important federal funds that will further enhance our firefighter programs and equip them with the tools they need to keep us safe."

"Congratulations to the West Springfield and Wilbraham fire departments who are recipients of the first round of FEMA Assistance to Firefighter Grants," said Congressman Richard E. Neal. "These two communities will be able to purchase important equipment like thermal imaging cameras and power stretchers to ensure they stay safe on the job and have the necessary tools to keep our communities safe, as well."

"I'm so grateful for the around-the-clock work and dedication of our first responders," said Congressman Jim McGovern. "Our Commonwealth's firefighters understand the dangers of their job and risk their lives to keep us safe. It's our responsibility to ensure they have the training and equipment they need to do their job safely. These grants will have a real and lasting impact on the safety of our communities, and I will keep fighting in Congress to make sure we support our firefighters in every way we can."

"Our heroic firefighters are always on the frontline in our communities, and their service during the ongoing pandemic is no exception," said Congressman Bill Keating. "These funds will enable firefighters in Brewster, Eastham, Falmouth, Rockland, Truro, Wareham, and Yarmouth to receive the cutting-edge equipment and training they need to continue to protect us."

"Day and night, firefighters keep our communities safe and our families secure. Working closely with our colleagues around our Commonwealth, we were able to secure federal funding for critical equipment, safety gear, and training programs for the firefighters working to protect their neighbors," said Congressman Kennedy. 

"Even in the best of times, our firefighters face incredibly dangerous situations when they go to work each day. Now, they're working harder than ever while our communities are facing enormous budget shortfalls," said Congresswoman Katherine Clark. "I'm grateful that our brave first responders in Sherborn and Waltham will receive this federal funding to secure critical supplies and training, which will help protect them and our communities."

"Firefighters in Massachusetts have earned our unyielding support for the sacrifices they make each day to keep our Massachusetts families safe," said Congresswoman Pressley. Our cities and towns will benefit from these important federal funds that will further enhance our firefighter programs and equip them with the tools they need to keep us safe."

"This public health crisis has only increased the demands on our firefighters. Like always, they've risen to the challenge," Congresswoman Trahan said. "This funding will ensure that departments in my district and across the Commonwealth are able to  properly train and equip firefighters to handle the emergencies they routinely face." 

More information regarding FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters grant programs can be found here: https://www.fema.gov/welcome-assistance-firefighters-grant-program.

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