Chief Paul Parisi is pleased to report that the Ipswich Fire Department received a $14,251 grant from the Department of Fire Services Fiscal Year 2024 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program.
Fire departments across Massachusetts were invited to apply to the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program, which provides reimbursement on purchases of 135 different types of eligible equipment. Eligible items include hoses and nozzles, turnout gear, ballistic protective equipment, gear washers and dryers, thermal imaging cameras, hand tools and extrication equipment, communications resources, hazardous gas meters, and more.
In many cases, the purchase of this equipment will help departments attain compliance with Occupational Safety & Health Administration or National Fire Protection Association safety standards. This is the fourth year that funding has been awarded through the program.
The Ipswich Fire Department will use the funding to purchase a positive pressure ventilation fan, a thermal imaging camera, and an accountability board for large-scale incidents.
“We greatly appreciate the continuing support that the Department of Fire Services provides to ensure our first responders continue to have the most up-to-date equipment possible,” Chief Parisi said. “Thank you to state Sen. Bruce Tarr and state Rep. Kristin Kassner, who supported this expenditure in the budget.”
“The Firefighter Safety Equipment Grants are an investment in the health and safety of Massachusetts firefighters,” said State Fire Marshal Jon Davine. “The flexibility of the program is especially valuable because it allows each department to make purchases based on their specific needs and resources. It has become a vital part of the way the Massachusetts fire service prepares for the constantly evolving threats in the world around us.”