FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- January 13, 2023
Gardner Fire Department Receives Grants for New Hose Equipment & Education Programming
Of the total grant amount, $19,000 was awarded from the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program to replace all hoses and nozzles on the Departments trucks that were originally purchased between 1988 and 1991.
“Current safety standards recommend replacing this type of equipment every ten years,” said Gardner Mayor Mike Nicholson. “I’m thankful this funding will allow us to bring the equipment that our firefighters use to a modern standard to ensure we are doing what we can to keep our firefighters safe and allow them to do their job in a more efficient manner.”
“Grants like these really do help communities like Gardner purchase the equipment we need and provide the level of care that our first responders and our residents deserve,” said City Council President Lizzy Kazinskas. “I’m very thankful we were able to receive this funding with the help of our partners at the state level.”
In addition to the equipment grant, Gardner was awarded $4,381 from the Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) Grant to assist with fire education in schools.
“This program was started in 1996 and has been very successful reducing the number of child fire fatalities in the State,” said Gardner Fire Chief Greg Lagoy. “Gardner Firefighters trained as instructors teach students to recognize the danger of fires through both school and community-based programs.”
Lastly, Gardner received $2,277 from the Commonwealth’s Senior SAFE Grant program to support fire and life safety education for senior citizens in the community. This program was created in was 2014 to address the physical and mental fire safety challenges that adults ages 65 and older face. According to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, senior citizens are twice as likely to die in a fire than any other age group. This program is given through partnerships established with local senior centers, senior housing facilities, visiting nursing associations, and other similar agencies.
"Gardner is a worthy recipient of this funding,” said State Senator Anne Gobi. “We must invest in local fire services. Departments must be able to ensure that they are able to serve and meet contemporary standards. This grant award is going to be utilized well by the chief and members of the Gardner Fire Department."
"I am very happy to see this important grant funding be awarded to the Gardner Fire Department,” said State Representative
Jon Zlotnik. “The equipment upgrades and programming that will be able to be implemented will directly benefit the safety of all residents of the city and our first responders."