NAHANT — The Nahant Fire Department will be one of 300 departments across the state to receive $9,890 as part of the Department of Fire Services Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program, Chief Dean Palombo announced.
Palombo said the funding will be used to purchase bailout kits for all firefighters that include rope and other tools firefighters can use to escape should they be trapped in a burning building.
“The bailout kits will offer added protection to our firefighters,” Palombo said. “I’d like to thank the Nahant delegation to the state Legislature and Department of Fire Services for their support, and thank you so Captain Austin Antrim for his hard work in obtaining the grant.”
The Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program enables departments to purchase a variety of equipment intended to make firefighters safer while on the job.
The $4 million awarded to departments statewide is part of a $25 million bond bill filled by the Baker-Polito Administration to support firefighter health and safety over the next five years.
Massachusetts Fire Departments were able to apply to the program for 114 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.
“Investing the short-term and long-term health and safety of firefighters has been a hallmark of the Baker-Polito Administration,” said State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey. “I am grateful that we are able to continue supporting this initiative and make sure that firefighters not only go home safe at the end of every shift, but also that they maintain their health during and after their careers.
“This funding couldn’t come at a better time, either. With the financial challenges that COVID-19 has brought to so many Massachusetts municipalities, this grant funding will mitigate critical budget gaps in many departments.”
