(BOSTON) – House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy), Representative James M. Murphy (D-Weymouth), Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull), and Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth) are pleased to announce Weymouth and Hingham will be receiving funds from the FY21 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program. The Weymouth Fire Department will receive $22,494.00 and the Hingham Fire Department will receive $14,762.38.
“Our firefighters risk their lives to keep their community safe,” said Speaker of the House Ronald J. Mariano. “I’m pleased to help provide state funding to ensure their safety and health as they protect their neighbors in Weymouth.”
“I am thrilled the towns of Weymouth and Hingham are benefiting from this critical funding to address firefighter job safety,” said Representative Murphy (D-Weymouth). “It is imperative that we provide protective firefighting gear, to ensure the well-being of those who put themselves in harm’s way to help members in our community. This crucial aide will allow the men in women who dedicate their lives to keeping us safe be able to mitigate firefighter health risks.”
“The Hingham Fire Department protects our community each and every day,” said Representative Meschino (D-Hull). “These state grants provide funding to contribute to essential equipment to protect our firefighters while doing their job.”
“Our Fire Departments respond to thousands of incidents every year and this funding will provide them with the equipment needed to protect themselves while they’re out in the field protecting others,” said Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth). “Our Fire Chiefs will utilize this funding to secure the equipment that best fits their department needs. I am thankful to all of those who have stepped up and dedicated their public service careers to this important profession.”
“We are very grateful for this essential grant and for the state and local government as well as the State Fire Marshall,” said Weymouth Fire Chief Keith Stark. “This critical funding, which will allow us to purchase necessary thermal imaging cameras to ensure the safety of our firefighters when responding to emergency incidents.”
“The Hingham Fire Department is very appreciative to receive a grant for firefighter safety equipment,” said Hingham Fire Chief Steve Murphy. “We will be using the money to purchase fitness equipment for our stations. Firefighting is a dangerous, physically demanding, but rewarding job. Purchasing new fitness equipment can give them the resources necessary to succeed. I want to thank the State Fire Marshal, State Representatives, and State Senators for supporting this critical initiative.”
A total of 294 Fire Departments were awarded money from the FY21 Fire Fighter Safety Equipment Grant Program. The Departments in Massachusetts were able to apply to this program for 114 different types of eligible equipment, including personal protective clothing, gear washers and dryers, thermal imaging cameras, various hand tools and extrication tools, communications resources, hazardous gas meters, and fitness equipment. This funding will go a long way in helping to diminish current risks of fire and smoke, and long-term health risks connected to the exposure of fire.
