FEMA Gives 308K To Stoneham Fire Department For Radios

STONEHAM, MA — The Stoneham Fire Department will soon get more than 30 new portable radios thanks to a $308,485 federal grant awarded late last month, Fire Chief Matthew Grafton announced on Friday.

The money comes as an Assistance for Firefighters Grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It will pay for 36 new radios and accessories, including batteries, carrying cases and both portable and vehicle chargers, as noted in Grafton’s announcement.

The town will match FEMA money with a $30,849 contribution, Grafton said.

The Assistance to Firefighters program is a national initiative aimed at helping support firefighters and emergency medical service agencies. Its grants fund everything from equipment to training to emergency vehicles.

Grafton thanked FEMA and the town of Stoneham for this funding on Friday, calling the radios “much needed equipment.”

“Communication is a critical component of firefighting and with the purchase of these new radios we will be able to better depend on the reliability of our communication equipment while working in extreme environments,” Grafton said.

See a full list of Assistance to Firefighters grant recipients here.