Hopkinton Fire Gets $200,000-plus Federal Grant

The Hopkinton Fire Department has been awarded $202,274, under the Assistance to Firefighters program, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern and U.S. Sen. John Kerry said in a press release Thursday.

 “Homeland security starts with hometown security," McGovern said. "It’s critical that we provide local first responders with the resources they need to protect our communities." 

 The grant will be used for Hopkinton firefighters to replace Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), the tanks and gear that allow firefighters to breathe in smoky and toxic environments.

In the release, the Hopkinton Fire Department said the new equipment will enhance firefighter safety, increase equipment standardization with mutual-aid fire departments, and improve firefighting services for Hopkinton residents.

The Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fire Administration, part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States.

FEMA is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's mission is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, the release said.