Fire Departments in the 17th Middlesex House District will soon be getting assistance in their efforts to keep themselves and the communities they serve safe.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded Firefighter Safety Equipment Grants to the City of Lowell and Town of Tewksbury.

The notification was made to State Representative Vanna Howard last Friday in a letter from State Fire Marshall, Jon M. Davine.

Lowell FD is set to received $50,000, while Tewksbury is in line for $23,570.

The grants will be used to purchase a wide variety of equipment that will make impactful improvements to the safety of their personnel. Many will be outfitting their firefighters with new protective gear, while others will be acquiring important tools such as thermal imaging cameras, portable radios, hazardous gas detectors, and personnel accountability systems.

“This competitive grant program will enable our fire departments to purchase various equipment that will make firefighters’ jobs safer and support firefighters’ health and safety,” Howard tells InsideLowell. “I’m proud to support this program and also want to thank my House and Senate colleagues and the Healey-Driscoll Administration for ensuring the safety of our men and women firefighters are at the forefront.”

Governor Healey’s administration touts the funding as providing better outcomes for emergency calls, both for responders and victims, and that the long-term health of firefighters in the District and other Districts receiving funding will be greatly enhanced.