Fire Departments receiving new federal grants include Bristol; Central Falls; East Greenwich; East Providence; Johnston; Lincoln; Narragansett; Newport; North Kingstown; Pascoag; Portsmouth; Providence; Prudence Island; Rhode Island Firefighting Academy in Exeter; Warwick; West Warwick; and Woonsocket

PROVIDENCE, RI – In an effort to enhance public safety and improve emergency response capabilities across the state, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced $5,495,328 in federal funding to help nineteen fire departments and fire districts across the state purchase new equipment and training.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded federal fire grants to fire departments and fire districts in Bristol; Central Falls; East Greenwich; East Providence; Johnston; Lincoln; Narragansett; Newport; North Kingstown; Pascoag; Portsmouth; Providence; Prudence Island; Rhode Island Firefighting Academy in Exeter; Warwick; West Warwick; and Woonsocket.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program helps fire departments purchase equipment and emergency vehicles and provides training and other firefighting and fire prevention activities. 

Federal grants awarded to local fire departments include:

  • Central Falls Fire Department: $168,720 for firefighter training.
  • East Greenwich Fire Department: $93,333 for vehicle exhaust removal systems.
  • East Providence Fire Department: $834,363 for paramedic training.
  • Johnston Fire Department: $178,994 for an air compressor system and cardiac monitors/defibrillators.
  • Lincoln - Albion Fire District: $37,714 for thermal imaging cameras; Lime Rock Fire District: $39,047 for firefighting tools, nozzles, and ladders.
  • Narragansett Fire Department: $112,857 for a new SCBA air compressor and firefighter safety and survival training.
  • Newport Fire Department: $422,654 for portable radio units, mobile repeaters, and associated communications equipment.
  • North Kingstown Fire Department: $51,409 for firefighter turnout gear, breathing apparatus facepieces, and personal rescue bailout systems.
  • Pascoag Fire District: $579,337 for a firefighting pumper engine.
  • Portsmouth Fire Department: $117,142 for operations and safety.
  • Providence Fire Department: $430,259 for cardiac monitors/defibrillators and thermal imaging cameras.
  • Prudence Island Fire Department: $357,142 for a new fire pumper truck.
  • Rhode Island Firefighting Academy in Exeter: $500,000 for a firefighting aerial ladder truck.
  • Warwick Fire Department: $899,392 for a firefighting aerial ladder truck and $100,606.61 for portable radio equipment.
  • West Warwick Fire Department: $446,790 for portable radios, mobile radios, and personal rescue bailout systems.
  • Woonsocket Fire Department: $110,109 for vehicle extrication equipment, HAZMAT equipment, and thermal imaging cameras.

Additionally, about $15,000 in AFG COVID-19 Supplemental grants were awarded to Bristol ($10,938), Saylesville Fire District ($1,670), and the Prudence Island Volunteer Fire Department ($2,850) to acquire personal protective equipment (PPE) and related supplies to the fire service community to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“This is a big win for these communities.  Our firefighters do so much to help keep people safe and these new federal funds will help ensure local fire departments are fully staffed, equipped, and trained.  I am grateful to our first responders and will continue working to ensure that Congress provides them with the support they need.  These grants will help lift the budgetary burden on local governments and better protect the health and safety of the public and firefighters,” said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee that oversees FEMA funding who leads annual workshops to help Rhode Island fire departments compete for these federal funds. 

“The delegation works hard to deliver federal dollars to support the work of Rhode Island firefighters. I’m pleased these awards will cover new trucks, training, and life-saving equipment for these departments,” said Senator Whitehouse. 

“Communities are safer and fire departments are better equipped thanks to the millions of dollars in federal funding that my colleagues and I have delivered,” said Congressman Langevin. “Our courageous firefighters risk their own safety every day to protect the rest of us. They deserve the very best training, equipment, and recruiting tools money can buy.”

“Every day, brave men and women across our state put their lives on the line as firefighters and first responders,” said Congressman Cicilline. “These federal funds will help ensure they have the training, equipment, and support they need to keep them safe while serving our communities.”

Since 2001, Rhode Island fire departments and other first responders across the state have successfully secured over $115M million in AFG awards to pay for equipment upgrades, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, fire prevention programs, and hiring new firefighters.