LYNN — The Lynn Fire Department has received a $26,000 grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and the Department of Fire Services (DFS). This grant will go towards vehicle extrication equipment which will allow the department to purchase hydraulic rescue tools, also known as the jaws of life tool, for the fire house located on Broadway.
The department has a set of these extrication tools at the fire houses on Western Avenue and Fayette Street, but Capt. Ed Miles said they need some closer to the Lynnfield rotary and Wyoma Square area since there have been several traumatic accidents in this area that required the extrication tools.
“We’re probably waiting seven or eight minutes on scene and it seems like hours,” Miles said. “We’re sitting there knowing that we can’t get these people out without the jaws of life.”
The location of these tools at the Broadway fire house will provide for the Ward 1 area.
Lynn Fire Chief Stephen Archer said this grant is potentially a life-saving award, also allowing the department to purchase other accessories that can save crucial minutes and seconds when attempting to reach trapped victims.
Miles leads the department’s grant committee — which was started four years ago — and he said some grants are for specific equipment, training and vehicles, so they spend a lot of time researching and preparing for any grant opportunities.
State Sen. Brendan Crighton and Rep. Dan Cahill work with Miles and the grant committee to keep them informed about when the state makes money available for fire departments. Miles said this is something they’re always keeping an eye out for.
Archer said in the past four years the department has received about $4.7 million in grants for equipment and personnel.
“Lynn Fire has been very, very fortunate,” Archer said. “It’s money that’s going to help us to enhance the safety of all of our personnel and also to improve the service we give to the whole community.”
Archer said they have scored about five different grants in the last three years.
“Our success is really a tribute to our legislative delegation,” Archer said. “Also a tribute to our in-house grant team which is just absolutely phenomenal with these grant applications.”
The grant committee is made up of Miles, Lt. Steve Stille, Lt. Ryan Brown, Lt. Mike Smith, Lt. Denis Ring and Kerri Stone.
Archer said the department owes this team a great debt for all of the hard work and countless hours they’ve put in on these applications.
Miles said the committee will usually know which months the grants will come out, but after the grants are released, there is about three to four weeks until the application is due. Miles said this is a quick turnaround and the committee works very hard to apply for as many needed grants as they can.
The system can be very competitive, but Miles said some grant programs offer assistance and host seminars on how to apply and what to expect.
He said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is one of the groups offering grants, and they are very helpful during the process.
The Lynn fire department will be obtaining a new ladder truck in October from a $1 million grant they received from FEMA.
Miles attributed some of the success of the grant programs to the former Wakefield Fire Chief Dave Parr, who is now a regional coordinator for FEMA.
“He’s been a tremendous help to us,” Miles said.
The new vehicle extrication equipment is expected to be delivered to the department in about six weeks.
Allysha Dunnigan can be reached at [email protected].