Police/Fire

Southwick Fire Department receives grant

Southwick Firefighter Eric Brogan demonstrates how their current breathing apparatus operates. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fitzpatrick)

SOUTHWICK – Congressman Richard Neal paid a visit to the Town of Southwick on Friday morning and presented a Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant for $91,429 to the Southwick Fire Department.

With the grant allowing the Southwick Fire Department to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus, Neal spoke about the reason why the grant was created in the first place.

The Congressman referred to a fire that happened on Dec. 3, 1999 at the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co building which killed six firefighters. The first responders were trapped in the building, running out of oxygen and eventually suffocating.

Neal was a Representative of several communities around Worcester when the fire occurred, and four of the six firefighters that died, were his constituents.

“That’s what led to the idea that you would develop a competitive round of grant applications,” said Neal.

This particular grant has been available to communities throughout the commonwealth so the Southwick Fire Department applied for it because their current breathing apparatus is around 20 years old.

Neal was pleased to give the Southwick Fire Department the proper amount of money so they could have enough breathing apparatus for every single truck in the station.

“It reminded me of a valuable service that the Select Board and the fire service and the others provide every single day,” said Neal. “When you come out here and have a chance to reward them and thank them for what they’ve done, it’s a nice bind.”

Congressman Neal speaks with Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart and Select Board members Russ Fox and Doug Moglin. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fitzpatrick)

According to Southwick Firefighter Eric Brogan, the grant should be able to purchase around 14 breathing apparatus, while six more have already been bought through the Town of Southwick.

A few town officials attended the grant announcement, including Select Board Chairman Doug Moglin, Clerk Russ Fox, and Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart. The town officials realize just how important getting new breathing apparatus is.

“It can be a matter of life and death,” said Moglin. “To have this equipment, it’s going to be a huge benefit to the department.”

Having the ability to purchase new equipment also allows the department to standardize all the equipment and get it up with the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) codes. Every single breathing apparatus on the trucks will all have the same features. Whether the firefighters respond to a fire at a factory, home, small business, or any other location, the upgrade to the equipment will allow firefighters to have that equipment ready in any situation.

Towards the end of Neal’s time at the fire station, Brogan put on the current breathing apparatus gear that they have and gave Neal a demonstration on how the equipment works.

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