GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith is pleased to announce that Gloucester Fire Department has been awarded an approximately $490,600 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Funds will pay for the cost of multiple training courses for Department personnel to achieve ProBoard certification in Fire Officer 1, 2, 3 and 4, Fire Instructor 1, Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) and a program called Saving Ourselves, which focuses on firefighters’ ability to self-rescue when trapped during a fire.
“The Gloucester Fire Department has been awarded over 2 million in Assistance to Firefighters Grants in the last four years,” Chief Smith said. “This is a major accomplishment that would not have been possible without the dedicated men and women who put the work into these grants, and the support of the Mayor, City Council and state and federal elected officials.”
The grant was authored and submitted by Capt. Jamie Santos. Implementation of the training courses is pending the City’s acceptance of the grant.
Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG)
Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) are allocated to fire departments nationally to fund and aid the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations.
These federal grants help firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.
