Rep. Biele Secures $1.75 M for Firefighters in House Budget

Funds support Boston Fire Department Training Academy and Hazardous Material Response Teams

BOSTON—Last week, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed its budget for fiscal year 2025 (FY25). During the House debate, State Representative David Biele filed and successfully advocated for the adoption of an amendment filed on behalf of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and Boston Firefighters Local 718 to provide funding for hazardous material response teams and firefighter training academies for FY25.

Specifically, Rep. Biele’s amendment allocates $1,250,000 for fire department hazardous material response teams, including teams in the City of Boston, and an additional $500,000 for the Boston fire department training academy.

“We would like to thank Representative Biele for his continued advocacy in support of Local 718 and our members,” said Sam Dillon, President of Boston Firefighters Local 718. “We thank him for securing $500,000 for the Boston Fire Department Moon Island Training Academy and the $1.25 million that shall be provided for the Boston, Cambridge, and Everett fire department hazardous material response teams in 2024 and 2025. This money is instrumental in keeping our members and our brothers and sisters from Cambridge and Everett trained for when we are called upon to respond to a situation. We look forward to working with Representative Biele in the future.”

Rep. Biele’s amendment garnered bi-partisan support from 79 state representatives from across Massachusetts and was adopted by a vote of 158-0.

“I am grateful for the support of my colleagues in making these crucial investments for our first responders,” said Rep. Biele. “These funds will ensure that our firefighters are trained and have the resources necessary need to keep our communities safe.”

The budget now heads to the Senate, which is expected to debate its own version of the FY25 budget in May. The differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget will be worked out by a six-member conference committee, which will produce a final compromise spending bill for FY25.