HARRINGTON, Maine — The Harrington Volunteer Fire Department will be receiving an $80,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“I’m a couple feet off the ground,” said fire Chief David Baldwin Thursday morning. “This grant is certainly extremely welcomed.”
The funds are part of the Assistance to Firefighter Grant program, created to help provide funds for fire departments and emergency medical service organizations to purchase gear and vehicles and pay for training, according to a news release from U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King, and Congressman Bruce Poliquin.
Although the Harrington firefighters don’t have the money in hand yet, they do have plans for it.
“We’re going to replace all of our self-contained breathing apparatuses and bring them up to the current standards for safety,” said Baldwin.
He was not sure when the fire department would actually have the money. He anticipates receiving an email with instructions since interactions with FEMA and the transfer of funds are all electronic, he said.
“Mainers in the Harrington community depend on the hardworking members of the local fire department to keep them safe,” Collins, King and Poliquin said in their news release. “This grant will help give the Harrington Fire Department the resources they need to purchase new equipment, such as new breathing apparatuses, as they continue to protect their community.”