Westwood Fire Department Awarded $2,500 In Grants

WESTWOOD, MA — The Westwood Fire Department received a $2,500 grant by the Mass. Department of Fire Services Firefighter Turnout Gear Grant Program.

The department will use the funds to purchase hoods and gloves for personal protection during firefighting operations.

These programs aim to reduce the amount of cancer-causing chemicals that firefighters are exposed to in the course of their work by providing them with modern protective gear to wear while fighting fires, and modern gear washing machines to clean contaminants from their gear before they wear it to the next emergency.

"We now know that the risk of occupational cancers is among the greatest threats faced by modern firefighters. Providing firefighters with new gear to wear and establishing regular and effective gear washing programs are two of the most valuable actions we can take to reduce future cancer diagnosis" said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey. "We are thankful that the Commonwealth has made this a priority and invested in the advancement of the ongoing cancer prevention efforts of fire departments across the state."

Funding for this grant program was made available through the Baker-Polito administration for fire departments across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.