Shrewsbury Fire Department receives Assistance to Firefighters Grant

SHREWSBURY — The Shrewsbury Fire Department was awarded an Assistance to Firefighters grant for operations and safety.

The department last month received the $37,600 grant, which will be used to purchase two gear extractors and three dryers to clean firefighter personal protective equipment.

Gear extractors and dryers remove fire contaminants from turnout gear, which can expose firefighters to cancer-causing carcinogens. According to the National Fire Protection Association, cancer is a leading cause of firefighter deaths in the United States and approximately 60 percent of career firefighters will die because of cancer.

"Proactively taking steps to reduce occupational cancer in the fire service has been an initiative within our department for many years," Shrewsbury Fire Chief James Vuona said. "Purchasing this equipment will be a vital step toward keeping our firefighters healthy for the length of their careers and beyond."

The extractors and dryers will be installed at each of the three Shrewsbury fire stations by July 2019.