Danvers, Peabody Fire Departments To Share In $5 Million In MA Grants

PEABODY, MA — The Danvers and Peabody fire departments will split about $45,000 of the $5 million in state funding to secure and improve firefighter safety and gear.

The state legislature approved the funding that State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey said can be used by departments to buy protective gear, thermal imaging cameras, hazardous gas detectors, portable radios and other items that help both responders and victims in the case of a fire or rescue.

"Our firefighters protect us and it's our obligation to protect them," State Rep. Sally Kerans (D-Danvers) said. "They deserve state-of-the-art protection as they enter often unpredictable and always potentially dangerous or life-threatening scenarios."

Peabody is set to receive nearly $30,000 in grants.

"This funding will enable us to equip our crews with structural turnout gear, so we're very pleased," Peabody Fire Chief Joe Daly said.

Danvers will get about $14,000.

"These funds will enable the Danvers Fire Department to secure essential equipment — such as ice rescue and (self-contained breathing apparatus) equipment," Danvers Fire Chief Bob Amerault said.

State Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem), Rep. Thomas Walsh (Peabody) and Rep. Kerans announced the grants this week.

"We have worked cooperatively with the (Gov. Charlie Baker) administration on these grants to benefit several fire departments," Walsh said.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)