Three fire houses in Brookfield and New Milford are sharing in FEMA grant money. Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company, Candlewood Company and Water Witch Hose Company #2 are receiving nearly $600,000 to purchase 89 self-contained breathing apparatuses and three accountability tracking systems.
Senator Richard Blumenthal says the tracking system will help commanders see real-time vital personal safety information during dangerous situations through a communication link. Blumenthal says the tracking systems will provide real-time data that could be used to locate a firefighter in distress.
Sara Ellis of the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company and Jason Ginsberg of the Candlewood Fire Department helped secure the grant. During the past seven years both fire companies have received multiple FEMA grants that total nearly $1 million.
Brookfield First Selectman Bill Davidson says these grants are a direct savings to taxpayers because they purchase vital equipment that would otherwise have been included in the municipal budget.
New Milford Mayor Pat Murphy says first responders safety will be enhanced by this competitive grant and anything that can be done to improve their wellbeing is a win. She adds that this grant is money that can be saved in future budgets.
