PROVIDENCE, RI – Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman David Cicilline today announced that the Lime Rock Fire District in Lincoln has been awarded a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to upgrade their fire safety and protection equipment.

The funding was authorized as part of FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which is designed to aid fire departments and emergency medical service organizations meet their equipment, training, and other needs.  Lime Rock applied for the grant to help replace obsolete breathing apparatuses, face pieces, and their cascade system, which is used to rapidly refill air cylinders while fighting fires. 

“Our firefighters do a tremendous job and I am proud to support the men and women of the Lime Rock Fire District.  This federal funding will help replace old equipment with upgraded Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses.  This is a smart investment in enhancing the safety of our firefighters and thereby improving public safety,” said Reed, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“Every day, Rhode Island firefighters are ready to risk their lives to keep our homes and communities safe,” said Whitehouse, who wrote a letter to FEMA in support of Lime Rock’s application.  “It’s our responsibility to provide them with the best training and equipment available.  I congratulate Lime Rock on a successful grant application, and I’m glad to see this important funding coming to Lincoln.”

“Rhode Island’s firefighters put their lives on the line protecting our communities and they deserve to have the best safety gear available,” said Cicilline.  “Congratulations to the Lime Rock Fire Department on receiving these federal funds to purchase new equipment.  We need to ensure that our firefighters have the resources they need to continue to do the important work of keeping families, firefighters and communities safe.”

“I would like to thank Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman David Cicilline for their support to make it possible for the Department to obtain this grant.  Without this grant, it would have been a major burden on the Department to purchase this equipment to replace the current air packs and air bottles that are nearing their expiration dates.  I would also like to thank Assistant Chief Arthur Jacques and Firefighter David Bethel for working on hard on this grant,” said Chief Frank Sylvester of the Lime Rock Fire Department.

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