NAHANT — The Fire Department was awarded an Assistance for Firefighters Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which will go to new turnout sets, Chief Austin Antrim announced Tuesday.
The grant from FEMA totals $17,619, and the town will match the award by 5 percent, bringing the total amount of funding available to $18,500, Antrim said in a statement. The funds will be used to purchase complete sets of turnout gear for five new call firefighters.
This is the 14th FEMA award the department has received since 2004.
“We are very thankful to FEMA for awarding us this grant, and grateful for the Town’s contribution,” said Antrim. “This grant provides all members of the Department with the necessary equipment and training to execute the best firefighting practices safely and effectively.”
Assistance to Firefighters Grants are allocated to fire departments nationally to fund and aid the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations, the statement said.
The grants help firefighters and other first responders obtain equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.
As of Sept. 9, FEMA has made 1442 awards totaling $235.2 million since the program began in 2001, according to the agency’s website.
Charlie McKenna can be reached at [email protected].
