By Doug La Rocque
Four area volunteer fire departments are the recipients of more than $289,000 from the Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant program for 2018. The largest amount went to the New Lebanon Fire Protective Association, for the purchase of 16 new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) packs. According to Association President Ed Godfroy, the $104,096 will be used to replace the current SCBA packs, that he says are, in many cases, 15 years old and outdated. These packs also come with a spare tank, should a firefighter require fresh air for an extended amount of time. Fire Chief Greg Gilliland told The Eastwick Press this grant not only helps assure his volunteers personal safety, but also represents large saving for fire district’s taxpayers. He also indicated that it is something the Association probably could not have afforded on its own.
The announcements of the grants came from New York Congressman John Faso and Western Massachusetts Representative Richard Neal. The other fire districts sharing in the grant monies include Stephentown, who will use its $52,904 to purchase a new specially designed air compressor to refill their SCBA packs. Stephentown has applied for the money for several years, and 2018 marks their first successful bid in over two years.
The Hancock, MA Fire Department is the recipient of $80,000 to purchase new personal protective equipment, sometimes know as turnout gear. The other area department included in this year’s grant is Speigletown, who will also use its $52,381 to purchase a compressor to refill the SCBA packs. Chief William Maloney is quoted in Congressman Faso’s press release as saying “having this type of equipment means we can be ready for service in less time than if we had to travel to fill our bottles elsewhere. Winning this grant will allow us to reduce the burden to our taxpayers to purchase a new unit and allows us to reduce maintenance costs associated with the older unit.