Six Franklin County volunteer fire departments have been awarded grants from the state’s Cooperative Fire Protection Volunteer Fire Assistance Program.
The competitive matching-grant program, offered to all nonprofit rural call or volunteer departments providing service to communities of 10,000 or less, are for firefighter safety, technology transfer, and rural fire defense, according to the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.
The Colrain Fire Department will receive $1,500 for personal protection gear, protective foam and fire hoses, said Chief Nick Anzuoni.
The Heath Fire Department will receive $2,000 for wildfire protective gear, according to its chief, Ken Gilbert.
Also awarded grants were: Charlemont Fire Department, $1,967; South Deerfield Fire Department, $804; Sunderland Fire Department, $201 and Warwick Fire Department, $1,968.
The grants are also used for firefighter protection equipment such as helmets, goggles, pants and shirts, wildland fire training needs, portable radios, radio harnesses, portable tanks, mapping software, hoses, binoculars, chainsaws, backpack pumps and wildfire vehicles.
Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst, said, “We must continue to support the brave men and women who volunteer at local fire departments and provide critical fire protection services to our rural communities.”
The grants are designed to assist municipalities with smaller populations by aiding community volunteer fire departments in management efforts, supply and equipment purchases.