MAYNARD — Chief Angela Lawless is pleased to report that the Maynard Fire Department received two grants totaling in $22,500.
Maynard Fire was awarded a $19,000 grant from the Department of Fire Services Fiscal Year 2024 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program and $3,500 Emergency Management Performance Grant from Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The Maynard Fire Department will use the Firefighter Safety Grant to purchase two combustible gas detectors, an electric vehicle nozzle for electric vehicle fires, a fire blanket that will be deployed for electric vehicle fires and transports, and one set of structural firefighting gear. Funds will also be used to purchase complete rigging kit which will include ropes, carabiners, pullies, anchors and more that will be utilized during incidents and training
Fire departments across Massachusetts were invited to apply to the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program, which provides reimbursement on purchases of 135 different types of eligible equipment. Eligible items include hoses and nozzles, turnout gear, ballistic protective equipment, gear washers and dryers, thermal imaging cameras, hand tools and extrication equipment, communications resources, hazardous gas meters, and more. In many cases, the purchase of this equipment will help departments attain compliance with Occupational Safety & Health Administration or National Fire Protection Association safety standards. This is the fourth year that funding has been awarded through the program.
Maynard Fire will use the Emergency Management Performance Grant to purchase an Incident Command board system and technical rescue gloves for the department.
The Emergency Management Performance Grant is awarded to emergency management departments and communities to assist in the preparation of all-hazards emergency preparedness, including threats and risks associated with climate change. This includes providing the agency with the resources required for the implementation of the FEMA National Preparedness Goal’s. Funds can be used to to support local and/or regional emergency management activities in categories such as planning, organizational, equipment, training and exercises. These categories are used to build and sustain the core capabilities across the prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery mission areas.
“I am grateful for this funding which will allow us to purchase new equipment to keep our members and our community safe,” said Chief Lawless. “These grants allow us to purchase much needed equipment including incident command supplies which will help keep us ready and alert during incidents.”
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