Christmas came early for 174 fire departments across the state which received grants to replace older turnout gear and to purchase new washer-extractor equipment to clean structural firefighting gear after exposure to smoke, carcinogens and other toxic chemicals.
The grants, which total $920,000, are designed to reduce firefighters’ exposure to cancer-causing chemicals. They were announced on Tuesday by Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito.
A total of 144 fire departments received grants totaling $500,000 to purchase new hoods and gloves to replace aging or damaged equipment. About 3,000 pairs of gloves and 3,000 hoods will be purchased, officials said.
“Replacing old and damaged turnout gear is a financial challenge for most every department in the commonwealth,” said State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey. “These grant awards will ensure that a significant number of firefighters have access to hoods and gloves that will effectively protect them from exposure to dangerous contaminants, and that is one of the best things we can do for them to reduce the risk of a future cancer diagnosis.”
Another 75 grants were awarded for the purchase of washer-extractor equipment with an additional $420,000 in grant money. Because some departments are regional, 84 different forces will be able to benefit from new equipment, officials said.
“Cleaning firefighting gear is not a long-standing tradition in the fire service. Soot and ash-laden gear was once the mark of a seasoned firefighter, but we now know that washing gear after every exposure to smoke is the safest thing to do,” said Needham Fire Chief Dennis Condon, president of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Massachusetts. “The impact on the firefighters and their families in these departments who will now have the ability to wash their gear is truly immense.”
A total of 45 departments received grants for both.
Some of the area departments which received grants are: Amherst, $14,916 for gear and a washer; Agawam, $4,785 for gear; Belchertown, $13,597 for both; Chicopee, $7,968 for both; Easthampton, $8,981 for both, Greenfield, $2,4150 for gear, Leverett, $9,101 for both, Wilbraham $2,375 for gear, Shelburne departments, $17,346 for both and Worcester, $19,223 for gear.
———
©2019 The Republican, Springfield, Mass.
Visit The Republican, Springfield, Mass. at www.masslive.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
