HARTFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT WINS $353,000 IN FEDERAL GRANTS

Published on September 28, 2020

HARTFORD, CONN (September 28, 2020) – Today the City of Hartford announced that the Hartford Fire Department has won two grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  The first is a $173,000 grant from the Assistance to Firefighters grant program to fund cancer screenings for all Hartford firefighters currently in active service.  The second is a $180,000 grant from the Assistance to Firefighters coronavirus supplemental grant program to fund the purchase of personal protective equipment and cover other coronavirus-related expenses.

“We have an outstanding fire department and these grants are part of our commitment to do everything we can to support the health and safety of our firefighters,” said Mayor Luke Bronin.  “Firefighters do incredibly dangerous work, and they are regularly exposed to contaminants that can make them more susceptible to diseases like cancer, and this grant will allow us to provide free cancer screenings to all of our firefighters.  Chief Freeman has led the PPE procurement effort for our entire city, and this grant for PPE for the fire department specifically will help ensure our firefighters have the PPE they need as they continue to be on the frontlines of the pandemic.  I want to thank Chief Freeman and our grants team for aggressively pursuing and winning these important grants, and I also want to thank FEMA for making this funding available.”

“Firefighters volunteer to put themselves in danger to rescue residents, and they are routinely exposed dangerous contaminants that can lead to cancer,” said Fire Chief Reginald Freeman.  “The pandemic has only added risks, with our firefighters responding alongside ambulances to suspected cases of coronavirus when residents call 911.  These two significant grants will help us give them the protection they deserve.”