ADAMS, Mass. — The Fire Department is seeking grant funding for full-time firefighters and pondering how to repair or replace a fire engine.

 

Fire Chief David Lennon last week told the Prudential Committee about the submission for a federal SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) Grant to help pay for firefighters salaries and also help with his goal of pursuing a new fire station.

 

The firefighting positions will have a pay rate of $25 an hour. The department has budgeted $645,000 in funding from the SAFER Grant and a 25 percent contribution of $53,534.26. Fire District members had previously approved the hiring of two firefighters dependent on obtaining the three-year grant.

 

"I feel that we are looking at two crises, both getting coverage and also the station itself, and for the community to have to do both, it's going to be very, very difficult, and so I'm trying to go ahead and express in there that by supporting the hiring of two firefighters, it's going to make it much more palatable for our community to be in support of replacing the fire station, if we can also get outside help for staffing," he said.

 

Lennon said the department got some bad news from the shop about one of its engines. The vehicle's frame is suffering from corrosion, which is lessening the lifespan of the truck.

 

"What they're expressing is that double frame, the way it's starting to corrode and separate and push, they're saying we should either look at getting it replaced or start looking at a new truck, and we're trying to get 10 more years out of this," he said.

 

The committee agreed to handle safety critical items and try to keep the truck from eroding further, but Lennon said they are limited to what can be done.