Wretham Awarded $1 Million Grant For 6 New Firefighters

WRENTHAM, MA — Wrentham has been awarded a grant of more than $1 million to help provide adequate staffing for its Fire Department. The grant will allow the department to hire six additional firefighters, according to Town Administrator Kevin Sweet. The funds are distributed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through its Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants.

"Having the ability to hire six new firefighters will help immensely in bringing our department up to the proper and adequate staffing levels that we need to best serve our community," said Fire Chief Antonio Marino. "We are extremely fortunate and thankful to have been selected for this grant."

The grant covers a three-year period, during which the Fire Department will use the funds to recruit and maintain six additional full-time firefighters, town officials say. It will cover about 75 percent of the salaries and benefits for the first two years and 35 percent of those costs in the third year. Any contractual cost increases in years two and three will be paid by the town. When the three-year period is up, the town will be responsible for funding those positions.

"I would like to acknowledge Chief Marino and Captain Ken Jefferson who sought much needed funding for a staff shortage," said Sweet in a statement. "Chief Marino has shown a continued dedication to address the increasing service demands of our community for the short-term and long-term."

Sweet said that Marino will provide an update on the Fire Department on Oct. 1, along with discussion of the grant and future funding needs.