Attleboro Fire Gets $17,000 for Training and Life-Saving Cameras

The has received a $17,000 Emergency Management Performance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), City Councilor Peter Blais announced during Tuesday's committee meeting on public safety. The FEMA grant, which was awarded to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), has a 50 percent federal and 50 percent state cost share, cash or in-kind match requirement. 

The grant will be used for training, equipment purchases and to update its emergency plan. A portion of the grant, $6,500 to be exact, will be used to purchase a thermal imaging camera.

"The thermal imaging camera allows us to quickly find smoldering, concealed fires in buildings, thus preventing more extensive damage and potentially saving lives," Attleboro Fire Chief Scott Lachance said. "The device can also be used to conduct victim location during search and rescue activities in building fires and also for locating victims outdoors in cold or dark conditions."

 Additional grant money will be used to hire a consultant to help the department update its Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and other issues related to emergency preparedness, including the development of a city-wide emergency training drill. The remaining grant money will be used to train department members on Incident Command courses of action.

Blais credited the Attleboro Fire Dept. for its continuous ability to acquire grants that provide training and resources to the department without matching funds needed from the city.