SOUTHWICK/TOLLAND – Gov. Baker’s administration made an announcement on Tuesday that the Department of Conservation and Recreation has awarded 38 communities throughout Western Massachusetts with grants.
The grant money totals $63, 528 with the funding being provided by programs like the Cooperative Fire Protection and Volunteer Fire Assistance programs.
The communities receiving the grants are rural towns that have a population of 10,000 people or less.
Being considered rural communities, both Southwick and Tolland received volunteer fire assistance grants. Southwick was given $1,500 while Tolland received $1,936.
The money for the two fire departments will be going towards new protection gear for fighting wildfires and brush fires.
Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson
Southwick Fire Department Chief Russ Anderson certainly sees a need for the grant going into an upgrade to their protection gear.
“The stuff we have (now) is very old,” said Anderson.
As the Tolland Fire Department consists of all volunteers, it allows the firefighters to keep up with the technology and latest upgrades.
“These kinds of grants can make us more professional,” said Tolland Fire Chief Eric Munson.
The fire chiefs were glad to get funding from the state that can mean so much to a smaller community.
“For a small town like Tolland, these grants are invaluable,” said Munson. “A little money goes a long way for that type of stuff,” said Anderson.
Other equipment that can be used towards the grant includes things like portable radios, backpack pumps, hoses, mapping software, and binoculars.
