WORCESTER—New recruits at the Worcester Fire Department soon benefit from additional safety equipment, thanks to a $50,000 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant announced by State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine this week.
The funding provides a second set of turnout gear for recruits who are set to graduate in June, bolstering their readiness and safety as they enter the field.
Davine noted that fire departments across the state use the funding to acquire essential safety equipment. “Many [departments] will be outfitting their firefighters with new protective gear,” Davine said in the announcement, “while others will be acquiring important tools such as thermal imaging cameras, portable radios, hazardous gas detectors, and personnel accountability systems.”
State Sen. Peter Durant, R-Spencer, praised the grant’s impact, calling it a crucial investment in the safety of firefighters. “Firefighter gear is costly, yet critical, safety equipment, and allowing these new firefighters to have a second set of gear as they begin to take their places among the ranks is crucial to their safety,” Durant said.
Worcester Fire Chief Martin Dyer explained the process, stating that recruits receive their initial set of turnout gear when training begins and a second set upon graduation. “Once they finish, they will receive their second set of gear when they graduate,” Dyer said, adding that the current group of recruits is expected to graduate in five months.
The Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program supports fire departments across the state by providing funding for protective gear and essential tools.
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