BRIDGEWATER — Chief Thomas Levy is pleased to announce that the Bridgewater Fire Department has received a $2,507 Firefighter Turnout Gear Grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) and the Department of Fire Services (DFS). The department will be able to purchase protective hoods and gloves for personal protection during firefighting operations.
“This personal protection equipment is vital to ensuring that we are doing all we can to keep our firefighters safe from the long-term and short-term effects of harmful carcinogens and chemicals they are exposed to when responding to a working fire,” Chief Levy said. “We are thankful to the Baker-Polito administration, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and the Department of Fire Services for providing us with this important grant.”
Bridgewater was one of 174 Massachusetts fire departments to receive the grant funds last week.
“We now know that the risk of occupational cancer is among the greatest threats faced by modern firefighters, and are thankful that the Commonwealth has been able to invest in this personal protective equipment to improve the overall health and safety of firefighters,” said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey. “Providing firefighters with new hoods and gloves to protect their heads and hands from exposure to the toxic chemicals that cause cancer is one of the most effective steps we can take to prevent future cancer diagnoses.”
Funding for this grant program was made available through the Baker-Polito administration for fire departments across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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