Easton Fire Department Receives More Than $11K In State Grants

EASTON, MA — The Easton Fire Department will use more than $11,000 in grants from the Executive Office of Public Safety and the Department of Fire Services to purchase turnout gear and an equipment washer/extractor. The grants are designed to provide state fire departments will equipment that will reduce exposure to cancer-causing toxins associated with firefighting.

Easton Fire Chief Kevin Partridge announced the $7,181.09 turnout gear grant and $4,165 washer-extractor equipment grant last week. Easton was one of 174 departments in the state to receive the grant.

"We are thankful to EOPSS, the Department of Fire Services and the Baker-Polito Administration for providing these grants and helping to equip our firefighters with the latest safety equipment and gear," Partridge said. "Occupational cancer is a major concern among all of us in the fire service and doing all that we can to prevent it is something we should all be focused on."

Easton was one of 174 Massachusetts fire departments to receive the grant funds.

Captain John Dzialo, who applied for the grants, said: "I am thankful that we were one of the departments selected to receive both of these important grants. Every fire department should be equipped with this gear to prevent exposure to harmful chemicals and carcinogens.”

Funding for this grant program was made available through the Baker-Polito administration for fire departments across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.