The Longmeadow Fire Department will use federal funds to purchase much needed equipment.
Longmeadow Fire Chief Eric Madison stands with U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal as Madison shares the news of the department has receiving a $69,100 federal grant.
LONGMEADOW - The Longmeadow Fire Department has received a $69,100 grant from the Department of Homeland Security.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant will be supplemented by $3,636 from the town, said Fire Chief Eric Madison.
The full-time department with 22 firefighters will be able to purchase much needed equipment with the grant funds, Madison said.
The money will be used to purchase 5,200 feet of various size fire hoses, 16 nozzles, three specialized nozzles designed to deliver high volumes of water with limited manpower, and six different water supply and delivery appliances. The money will also be used to train firefighters to use the new equipment.
"This is a great boost," Madison said. "We are a small department with limited staff and this equipment is designed to be operated by very limited man power."
U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, commended the department for submitting a great grant proposal.
"For a relatively small community, Longmeadow has scored under these grant writing opportunities," he said.
Madison said the money from the grant makes a difference for the people in the community and thanked Neal for his efforts in Washington to secure money for Western Massachusetts.
Madison said the grant helps get equipment the department could not otherwise afford.
"This kind of specialized equipment is very expensive," he said.
Since 2001, the program has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and others resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.