Williamsburg Fire Department was awarded a federal grant!

Williamsburg Fire Department was awarded a federal grant for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and Masks.

Williamsburg Fire Department Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 07, 2018

Contact Person: Jason A. Connell, Fire Chief

(413-268-7233)

Williamsburg Fire Department was awarded a federal grant for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and Masks.

On Friday, August 3rd, the Town of Williamsburg was informed that the Williamsburg Fire Department was awarded a federal grant in the amount of $45,623 for the purchase of six (6) SCBA’s, twelve (12) air bottles and personal masks for each firefighter through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The AFG program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

• The SCBA Air Packs will conclude a multiyear project to upgrade all of the department air packs to modern, lighter packs and associated bottles.
• Air masks will be purchased and issued to each firefighter. Individual masks will allow each firefighter to be properly fitted for their mask and help eliminate crosscontamination from having to share masks.

The grant award of $45,623 covers 95% of the total estimated cost ($47,904) for the SCBAs and Masks. The Remaining 5% ($2,281) will be covered by the Williamsburg Firefighters Association, which leaves zero cost to the Town of Williamsburg.

The Williamsburg Fire Department is grateful to department member, Firefighter Shawna Rogers and grant writer Lisa Sihvonen-Binder of Cricklewood Consulting for preparing and reviewing the grant over a month long process. We would also like to thank the Williamsburg Firefighters Association for providing funding and support for this grant. Without the continued support of the association, equipment like this would come at a greater cost to the taxpayers of the town of Williamsburg. In closing we would like to acknowledge the support of the Williamsburg Selectboard, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Edward Markey, Senator Adam Hines and Congressman Richard Neal.