Chelmsford Fire Department Receives $15K Grant For Safety Gear

CHELMSFORD, MA — The Chelmsford Fire Department has received a $14,969.35 grant from the state to purchase a variety of equipment that will make firefighters' jobs safer.

According to an announcement from the Baker-Polito Administration, the Chelmsford Fire Department is one of 306 Massachusetts fire departments to receive a total of $5 million from the FY22 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program.

This is the second year that funding has been awarded for firefighter safety as part of a $25 million bond bill filed by the governor to support firefighter safety and health in the coming years.

"Our communities and families depend on firefighters in difficult and dangerous moments," said Gov. Charlie Baker in a statement. "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.”

Fire departments in Massachusetts were able to apply to this program for 118 different types of eligible equipment, including 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 purchase of this equipment will help many departments attain compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration or National Fire Protection Association safety standards.

"Best practices for firefighter safety are constantly evolving as technology advances and our understanding of the short- and long-term health impacts of the work improves," said State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey in a statement. "This program is so important to help fire departments modernize their equipment and get firefighters the protection they need. The long-term health outcomes realized from these grant awards will have a truly immeasurable benefit."

A complete list of the awards by department can be found here.