Sentinel & Enterprise News - $409G Grant to Fund Fitchburg Fire Truck

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The Fire Department has received $409,091 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant, or AFG, program, according to a statement from U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas.

The money will go toward the purchase of a heavy rescue truck.

The AFG program eases department difficulties in purchasing proper equipment, the release said. As an example, a ladder truck for a local fire department can run in upwards of $1 million, and outfitting a firefighter with turnout gear and a breathing apparatus can exceed $5,000.

The AFG and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs are the two main federal programs supporting local fire departments by helping them buy equipment and provide adequate training, the release said.

Fire Chief Kevin Roy, reached Thursday, said the AFG program has been "huge for fire departments across the country."

"It's always been a problem with funding," he said. "Unfortunately, our equipment's very expensive now."

Each year, there are three categories, he said: staffing, vehicles, and safety and equipment.

"We've received grants in all three categories," he said.

He called the process "competitive," especially because "it's a nationwide grant program."

He said they usually submit the applications in December or January. There is a team of people who put together the grant application, he said, and firefighter P.J. Roy and Lt. Jack Gilmartin headed this one.

The truck will be used for the technical rescue and dive team, he said. Statewide, there has been an effort to get into technical rescue, including trench rescue and high angle rope rescue.

"All the things that we've been called to more and more over the last ten years," he said.

In the release, Roy, Mayor Lisa Wong, along with Warren, Markey, and Tsongas, noted how important the AFG program is.

"Fitchburg Fire Department received these needed federal funds through a competitive grant process, which speaks to both the quality of their application and the department in general," Tsongas said."

Warren said "this grant is terrific news for Fitchburg.

"Chief Roy and the Fitchburg Fire Department did great work to secure this funding for a new truck," she added.

Markey noted that "our firefighters risk their lives every day to protect our communities, but even our hometown heroes need help."

Wong, in the release, said "the additional public safety apparatus will enhance our public safety efforts."

"We thank Congresswoman Tsongas and our senators for their support," she said.

Roy said the truck will be located at the Fitchburg Fire Department headquarters, 33 North St..

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