By Izaskun E. Larraņeta
Publication: TheDay.com
Published 01/29/2010
New London — The New London Fire Department will receive almost $160,000 from a federal grant to purchase equipment.
Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District will be at fire headquarters on Bank Street at 2 p.m. today to formally make the announcement.
The grant will come from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which is administered by the Department of Homeland Security.
The fire department plans to use the grant to purchase 48 sets of turnout gear - coats and pants- that cost $1,700 each. Firefighters have been using gear that was nearly a dozen years old.
The department will buy a heavy duty washer and extractor to wash the gear.
They also plan to replace 16 self-contained breathing apparatus, which cost $5,200.