Two Oxford County fire departments plan to buy more equipment after receiving federal grants.
The Waterford and Woodstock departments each benefited from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The grants, which are administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration, assist departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical services in purchasing necessary equipment.
The fire departments are two of nine Maine agencies receiving grants totaling $869,626. Waterford will receive $33,630, while Woodstock gets $43,607.
Both departments will use the money to buy fire coats, pants, helmets, boots and gloves. Woodstock Fire Chief Geffrey Inman said he will also purchase air packs.
“Everything has to go out to bid,” Inman said.
John Martin, a firefighter and training officer with the Waterford department, said the department requested enough money to buy 20 sets of turnout gear. Martin and Assistant Fire Chief Bill Haynes submitted the grant application.
Haynes said the Waterford department’s annual operating budget is about $45,000.
Inman said the Woodstock department’s budget for 2007 was $39,000.
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