Printer Friendly Version - North Branford Fire Department Awarded $510,750 FEMA Grant for p25-Compliant Portable Radios

Funding will cover the acquisition of new rugged portable radios and related accessories. Each riding position on Fire/EMS units will be equipped with new p25 compliant portable radios, ensuring two-way radios are interoperable; improving radio communication between firefighters and dispatch and ensuring effective communication with mutual aid departments and hospitals. The new radios will replace current, 14-year-old radios which are no longer manufactured, and do not permit interoperability between mutual aid partners. Shown here is North Branford Fire Dept. (NBFD) Company 1 headquarters.Photo from NBFD/Facebook

August, 12, 2020: The North Branford Fire Department (NBFD) has been notified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that it will be receiving $510,750.05 on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security, under the 2019 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.

According to Fire Chief William Seward, III, the department filed the 2019 AFG application based upon a strategy that will improve radio communications between firefighters and dispatch as well as ensure effective communications with mutual aid departments and hospitals. This funding will cover the acquisition of new rugged portable radios and related accessories. Each riding position on Fire/EMS units will be equipped with new p25 compliant portable radios. This new equipment will also allow the department to expand its communications system without impacting the local budget. The grant award will permit the department to repurpose older radios to be used by the town for non-emergency operations.

The AFG awards are very competitive between fire services, EMS organizations and state fire training organizations. Awards are further categorized by career, combination and volunteer fire departments. Funding is calculated based upon population served; the North Branford award is 95% federal with a 5% match of local funds. Hence, the full value of the fire department's award is $536,287.55.

Ed Prunier, chairperson of the North Branford Board of Fire Commissioners, would like to thank

not only the Chief for filing the comprehensive application; but also the Town Manager, members of the Town Council and Mayor for their continued support, and our federal legislators for the assistance they provide in the quest for external funding sources.

According to Chief Seward and Commissioner Prunier, without the financial benefit which arises from the AFG, the cost of purchasing new portable radios would be borne by taxpayers. The current radios are 14 years old, no longer manufactured, and do not permit interoperability between mutual aid partners.

Both Chief Seward and Commissioner Prunier indicate that the safety of our firefighters is and always will be our number one priority.