Westborough Firefighters Get Thousands From State For Equipment

WESTBOROUGH, MA — The Westborough Fire Department will get a piece of about $5 million in grants handed out by state officials this week to upgrade safety equipment, according to state Sen. Michael Moore's office.

Westborough will be able to use its approximately $19,000 grant to buy items like hoses, thermal imaging cameras, tools, gas meters and washing and drying machines for gear. There are about 135 types of equipment eligible under the grant program.

"The least we can do as a society is offer these brave men and women the best in protective equipment to reduce the risk of immediate or long-term injury,” said Moore said in a news release.

Fire departments can apply for grants from the state's four-year-old Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program each year. About 321 departments received grants this week, with nearly $120,000 given to departments in eastern Worcester County.