Feds grant $4.2M to R.I. fire departments

WARWICK – Following up on previous federal support for Rhode Island fire departments to  train, equip and recruit firefighters, the state’s congressional delegation announced $4.2 million of grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Nine fire departments, the R.I. Fire Academy, the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Association and one fire district will split the money that is allocated from FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant and Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response Grant programs.

PBN Branded Content

Understanding Breast Health: The Vital Role of Annual Screenings

Breast health is a critical aspect of overall well-being, and regular screenings play a vital…

Learn More

“These funds will help guarantee that local fire departments are fully staffed and that firefighters have the best gear, safety equipment and training available,” said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., a senior member of the Appropriations Committee that oversees FEMA funding.

Warwick is scheduled to receive $1.1 million that it plans to use to purchase a firefighting hose and nozzles and provide training for an officer, instructor and safety officer training.

“As host to T.F. Green Airport, [it is] important that we have the resources necessary to respond quickly to any emergency, and this funding will enable us to continue to do that,” said Warwick Mayor Joseph J. Solomon.

The list of grants in order of size and with plans for their use:

• Warwick Fire Department – $1.1 million, AFG program, purchase hose and nozzles and provide training
• Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Association – $822,698, SAFER program, fund volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention
• East Providence Fire Department – $807,220, AFG program, purchase radios, automated external defibrillators and cardiac monitors
• Union Fire District (South Kingstown) – $442,140, SAFER program, fund volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention
• Woonsocket Fire Department – $296,364, AFG program, purchase radios, and gear washers and dryers
• R.I. Fire Academy – $216,782, AFG program, purchase equipment for training for technical and rapid intervention teams
• Middletown Fire Department – $146,667, AFG program, purchase breathing apparatuses
• Harmony Fire Department (Glocester) – $122,081, AFG program, purchase breathing apparatuses and face pieces
• Little Compton Fire Department – $97,429, AFG program, purchase breathing apparatuses and training for how to use them effectively
• Coventry Fire Department – $74,667, AFG program, purchase a diesel fume capture exhaust
• North Scituate First Department (Scituate) – $38,095, AFG program, purchase a power lift
• Saylesville Fire Department (Lincoln) – $29,524, AFG program, purchase nozzles and thermal imaging cameras