PROVIDENCE, RI – In a continued effort to modernize aging parts of Providence’s emergency response vehicle fleet, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today joined Mayor Brett P. Smiley in announcing $1.3 million in federal funds for the Providence Fire Department.

The federal funds are being awarded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. These federal grants are designed to enhance local fire departments’ abilities to comply with response, equipment, and operational standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and ensure firefighters have up-to-date, safe, reliable vehicles and equipment to keep people safe.

The City of Providence will receive a $1.3 million AFG grant to assist with the purchase of a heavy-duty Type-1 Advanced Life Support ambulance (also known as a as Mobile Intensive Care Unit) and a new NFPA compliant pumper truck.

Using a combination of both federal grants and City funding, Providence has significantly upgraded its fire and rescue fleet, replacing 23 out of the 27 fire and rescue vehicles with more efficient models by 2027 and allowing the Providence Fire Department to retire the last units from the 1990s.

“Mayor Smiley has made public safety a priority.  I am pleased to support those efforts and help deliver this $1.3 million boost for two new vehicles,” said Senator Reed. “This grant is a cost-effective investment and a real win-win for Providence.  Not only will these new vehicles enhance public safety, they will also help the city save on maintenance and repairs.”

“We are always working to ensure Rhode Island’s first responders are well equipped with the tools and resources they need to handle any emergency, at any time,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “Well done to Mayor Smiley and Chief Silva on securing funding for a new ambulance and fire engine for the Providence Fire Department’s emergency fleet.”

“When you call 911, Rhode Island’s firefighters and first responders should have the tools they need to respond quickly,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner. “This federal funding will modernize Providence’s emergency vehicle fleet to improve emergency response and keep Rhode Islanders safe.”

“Our local fire departments deserve to be well-staffed, well-equipped, and well-trained,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “Whether it’s to hire new firefighters or to procure emergency vehicles, I’m committed to working with my colleagues to secure federal resources for first responders in our state.”

“Elevating public safety in every neighborhood has remained my number one priority since day one. This critical funding will further support our ongoing priority to modernize the Fire Department to better protect our community,” said Mayor Brett P. Smiley. “Under the leadership of Chief Silva, our Fire Department has implemented innovative programs to support our most vulnerable neighbors and the funding from this federal grant will ensure our firefighters have the training, equipment and resources they need to continue that important work. I want to thank Senator Reed and our entire federal delegation for their continued leadership and advocacy for public safety improvements across Rhode Island and in Providence.”

This year, with the support of the congressional delegation, Rhode Island’s fire departments have received a record-breaking amount of federal funding through FEMA’s AFG and Staffing For Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant funding with a total of nearly $30 million for firefighters and first responders across the state.  Additionally, earlier this month, Providence received its largest SAFER grant on record to assist with the hiring of 44 new firefighters.

Congress appropriated $648 million for the AFG and SAFER programs in the fiscal year 2024 appropriations law.