Stoneham Delegation Announces $19,ooo for Firefighter Safety Equipment

BOSTON—State Senator Jason Lewis and State Representative Michael Day are pleased to announce that the Stoneham Fire Department will be receiving a $19,000 state grant to purchase new safety equipment to protect their firefighters through the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program.

Fire departments across Massachusetts are able to utilize this program to purchase a wide variety of eligible equipment, including thermal and ballistic protective clothing, thermal imaging cameras, assorted hand tools and extrication equipment, communications resources, hazardous gas meters, and much more.

“Our brave firefighters risk health hazards posed by smoke and other fire byproducts to protect our lives and property,” said State Senator Jason Lewis. “We owe it to them to ensure that they have all necessary safety equipment, and this grant will help do so.”

“I was very happy to see the Stoneham Fire Department again taking the initiative to apply for this grant funding to make our firefighters safer,” said State Representative Michael Day. “I will continue to support funding these state grants and working in collaboration with our town partners and departments to secure them coming home.”

“We are grateful to have received this equipment grant! The entire award amount will be used to purchase bail out kits for every firefighter in the department,” said Stoneham Fire Chief Matthew G. Grafton. “Bail out kits provide firefighters with a means to self-rescue should conditions deteriorate inside a structure fire. When there are no other ways out, firefighters will be able to safely repel from a window. We plan on conducting training from the Department of Fire Services and then putting the equipment into service.”

The Firefighter Safety Grant Program is funded by the Massachusetts Legislature.