West Hartford and New Britain fire departments will share a grant to support firefighter training and the purchase of technical rescue equipment.

By Ronni Newton

The West Hartford Fire Department will receive a large share of federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) funds that will be used for training as well as the acquisition of new technical rescue equipment.

West Hartford’s share is roughly $200,000 – part of a nearly $366,000 grant that is being shared with the New Britain Fire Department, West Hartford Fire Chief Greg Priest said Thursday at an announcement ceremony at Station 2 attended by U.S. Reps John Larson (D-1st District) and Jahana Hayes (D-5th District), as well as West Hartford Town Manager Rick Ledwith, Town Councilor Deb Polun, and officials from both fire departments.

West Hartford Fire Chief Greg Priest speaks at the announcement of an Assistance to Firefighters Grant. Courtesy photo

“This is an exciting time in the West Hartford, New Britain, and greater Hartford area for us all as we watch new growth and development within the communities,” Priest said Thursday. “As growth happens, this brings into focus the idea that we must be prepared for new or evolving hazards related to both the construction processes but also the end-state, which includes modern buildings and the infrastructures necessary to support community expansion.”

Priest noted how pleased he is to have secured the grant, along with mutual aid partner the New Britain Fire Department.

As fire departments have evolved into an “all hazards” model, Priest said it has required personnel to identify evolving risks and how to respond to potential incidents – including from a staffing, training, and equipment perspective.

“While we have to adjust our preparedness and strategies, at the same time, we recognize the pressure on our communities to have these services available, but also to navigate and manage the time and associated costs for the training and equipping of personnel. Especially in the area of technical rescue, there is a significant amount of specialized and focused training necessary to be proficient,” Priest said.

“We are appreciative of the efforts of our respective personnel who had the vision to identify the opportunity, collect the data, and then collaboratively present a solid case to demonstrate how the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) could improve our technical rescue capabilities. We are lucky to be in a region that has tremendous growth, vibrancy, and development as well as to have the support from our town and federal officials. We are grateful for the funding but especially the recognition that effective and robust training is necessary to support preparedness and response. We look forward to working with all the stakeholders to avail ourselves of this opportunity to improve service to the communities of New Britain and West Hartford,” said Priest.

The awarding of a grant like this one, he noted, is tangible evidence of support for the tough work done by the men and women of the fire service on a daily basis.

“Collaboration and communication across neighboring communities enhances public safety by improving response times and ensuring coordinated action when an emergency arises,” Larson said. “Rep. Hayes and I are thrilled to announce funding we secured in Congress to support crucial training programs that will strengthen the West Hartford and New Britan Fire Departments’ abilities to serve their communities and the region safely and effectively.”

Priest expressed his thanks to FEMA, the congressional representatives, and local officials. He also thanked New Britain Fire Chief Raul Ortiz and members of the West Hartford and New Britain fire department – including New Britain Asst. Chief Peter Towey, West Hartford Asst. Chief Hugh O’Callaghan, West Hartford Deputy Chief William Beebe, New Britain Fire Captain Nicholas Papa, and Grants Manager Pattie Lewis – for their extensive and exhaustive work on the grant process.

“The New Britain Fire Department is thankful for the support our Congressional representatives, Congressman Larson and Congresswoman Hayes, have shown in helping us secure this funding by way of the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. We are excited to collaborate with The West Hartford Fire Department as a regional partner to better deliver services to our respective communities. We appreciate the unwavering support and confidence both Mayor Erin Stewart and Mayor Shari Cantor have put in our departments to work together in this endeavor,” Ortiz said. “We hope to continue to foster great working relationships with our mutual aid partners and federal and municipal leadership.”

Larson, who represents West Hartford, and Hayes, who represents New Britain, helped secure the grant for the fire departments as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 government funding package. A total of $324 million has been committed directly to up to 2,000 fire departments across the nation to improve services and enhance firefighter safety.

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