Exeter Fire Department to Receive $40k for Safety Gear

U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Jim Langevin announced today that the Exeter Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $40,375 grant from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The Exeter Volunteer Fire Department will use these funds to purchase 17 complete sets of turnout gear, the outer layer of protective clothing worn by firefighters.

The Exeter Volunteer Fire Department currently has 47 members and only 21 sets of turn out gear that meets National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. This grant will assist the company in acquiring 17 new sets of structural firefighting turn out gear, including coats, pants, suspenders, boots, helmets, gloves and hoods. This federal grant represents nearly 25 percent of Exeter’s annual fire budget.

“This new gear will better equip Exeter’s firefighters and help them protect themselves and the community,” said Senator Reed. “I salute Chief Chamberlin, Curt Varone, and their grant writing team for winning this competitive grant. This new, reliable protective equipment will help Exeter’s firefighter’s better serve the community.”

“Rhode Island firefighters work tirelessly every day to protect their communities, and their safety must be a top priority. This grant will help provide Exeter’s dedicated team of volunteer firefighters with the protective equipment they need to get the job done safely and effectively,” said Senator Whitehouse. “I congratulate Fire Chief Dave Chamberlain and Exeter Fire Dept. President Curt Varone on a successful grant application.”

“At a time when municipal budgets are strained, funding for public safety is more important than ever,” Rep. Langevin said. “The brave men and women of the Exeter Volunteer Fire Department do an outstanding job protecting their town and their neighbors, and this grant will aid them in those efforts.”

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program is administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“The Exeter Fire Department No. 1 is truly grateful for the tremendous support of Senators Reed and Whitehouse and Congressman Langevin in securing the grant for new protective gear,” said Exeter’s Deputy Chief Curt Varone, who serves as president of the Fire Company. “The award will allow us to replace 17 sets of turnout gear that are 15 to 20 years old, with safe, reliable gear that meets current national standards. Replacing this gear would have been impossible, given our current budget situation.”

So far this year, Rhode Island has received over $3 million in federal awards from AFG and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant (SAFER) programs.