DRACUT — Fire Chief Richard Patterson is pleased to report that the Dracut Fire Department received a $24,985 grant from the Department of Fire Services Fiscal Year 2024 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program.

Fire departments across Massachusetts were invited to apply to the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program, which provides reimbursement on purchases of 135 different types of eligible equipment. Eligible items include hoses and nozzles, turnout gear, ballistic protective equipment, gear washers and dryers, thermal imaging cameras, hand tools and extrication equipment, communications resources, hazardous gas meters, and more. In many cases, the purchase of this equipment will help departments attain compliance with Occupational Safety & Health Administration or National Fire Protection Association safety standards. This is the fourth year that funding has been awarded through the program.

The Dracut Fire Department will use the funding to purchase firefighting protective hoods, ballistic vests and helmets and forestry gear.

“We are grateful for this grant funding which will enable us to improve firefighter safety with new equipment,” said Chief Patterson. “Keeping our firefighters equipped with the best possible safety equipment is paramount. It will provide us with the proper mission critical equipment to meet the needs of the community and this grant funding has assisted us with that effort.”