Lynnfield granted $1.2M for firefighters

LYNNFIELD — The Fire Department received $1,199,469.08 in federal funds from the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to a press release from the fire department.

Town Administrator Rob Dolan, Fire Chief Glenn Davis, and U.S. Rep Seth Moulton announced the department’s recently-acquired grant and stated in a press release that the funds will be used to hire four additional firefighters. The grant will be used to pay the full salary and benefits of the four new positions for the next three years.

The funds came from the Staffing For Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant, which provides funds to fire department and volunteer firefighters interest organizations to “help them increase or maintain the number of trained, ‘front line’ firefighters available in their communities,” according to the Commonwealth’s website.

The grant provides the funding for the fire department to “meet industry minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards, and to fulfill traditional missions of fire departments,” according to the press release.

“The four additional firefighters will address the evolving needs of the community and enhance the department’s capacity to respond swiftly and efficiently to fire and other emergency situations. Their presence will improve response times and bolster overall emergency preparedness,” Davis said.

“The Town of Lynnfield is grateful to the Department of Homeland Security and to Rep. Moulton for his assistance in obtaining this grant, which will allow us to bolster our Fire Department, which is handling higher call volumes every year. This SAFER grant will allow the community to continue with the combination staffing model that has always protected the Town’s safety,” Select Board Chair Dick Dalton said.

“Firefighters are among the bravest public servants we have. Their extraordinary courage and dedication keep our communities safe, day in and day out,” Moulton said. “I am thrilled that the Lynnfield Fire Department has been awarded nearly $1.2 million in federal funding to hire more firefighters. This funding will go a long way toward helping the town’s firefighters do their jobs as safely and effectively as possible.”

“The Lynnfield Fire Department is extremely pleased to receive this award as the SAFER grant process is highly competitive with very few awards given out nationally each year. We are thankful to FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security for recognizing our department’s commitment to public safety and investing in the future of our operational capacity,” Davis said.

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