Three fire departments in Rhode Island have been awarded $4.5 million in new federal grants to hire additional firefighters, acquire updated communications equipment, and increase public safety in the latest round of funding made available through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs.

Rhode Island’s firefighters put their lives on the line every day for our communities and it’s on to us to provide the tools and resources they need to stay safe. This is just the latest round of federal funding made available through key programs that keep our departments operating at their best, including through state-of-the-art equipment. These programs save lives, and I will continue to fight to ensure that they are fully funded.

The fire departments receiving these grants are:

• Cumberland: $547,000+ through the AFG program to purchase new mobile radios, mobile repeaters, and portable radios that help firefighters clearly understand each other when responding to emergencies.
• Cranston: $3.6+ million in SAFER funding for the hiring of 12 firefighters, which will bring the department back to full staffing levels, enhance its ability to respond to fires and emergencies within the community, and free up additional capital and resources for the department and city.
• Narragansett: $350,000+ through the AFG program to help Narragansett first responders upgrade their communication systems, enhancing reliability during emergency response operations.