Area Fire Chiefs Meet With State Lawmakers

More than 200 fire chiefs and state lawmakers got together this week at the Statehouse for the annual Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts legislative breakfast. The event provides an opportunity for the fire safety officials to discuss legislative priorities with their local lawmakers.

“We never ask for any money from the Legislature for us (FCAM),” said Lynnfield Fire Chief Tom Bogart. “All we ask for in terms of funding requests is for our firefighters and the public we serve.”

Bogart met with all three of Lynnfield’s state lawmakers – State Reps. Brad Jones Jr. and Donald Wong, as well as State Senator Katherine Clark.

Among the items on the agenda at this week’s meeting were the importance of continued local aid for cities and towns, funding for the Students Awareness for Fire Education (SAFE) program (Lynnfield received $4,300 for this last year) and also funding for fire safety equipment grant money and other needs.

“All of Lynnfield’s legislators are very supportive of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts’s efforts,” said Chief Bogart.