Providence, RI: Mayor Jorge Elorza, Commissioner of Public Safety Steven M. Paré, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, Congressman Jim Langevin, Congressman David Cicilline and members of the Providence Fire Department gathered this morning at the Broad Street fire station to showcase the Providence Fire Department’s new Rescue 1 vehicle, a Ford 550 frontline ambulance, which was purchased through funding granted to the PFD under FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG).
“It’s important that our emergency service professionals have access to the tools they need to serve our constituents,” said Mayor Jorge Elorza. “I want to thank the federal delegation for their continued persistence and support of our city.”
With the assistance of federal funding through the AFG, the Providence Fire Department purchased a new rescue vehicle for the Broad Street station, one of the busiest stations in the City, where firefighters respond to over 5000 Emergency Medical Service calls a year.
“With the high volume of rescue calls that the members of the Providence Fire Department respond to each day, it is imperative that firefighters have the best possible resources available to them,” said Commissioner Paré. “I thank the members of the federal delegation for their support and helping to secure the funding needed to purchase this new vehicle.”
The new rescue will allow for enhanced firefighter and patient safety, improve EMS delivery capabilities, reduce maintenance and repair costs and better the environment by running on clean diesel power. The rescue is also equipped with advanced medical and computer equipment.
“I am pleased to have helped secure federal funding to enable the Providence Fire Department to purchase this new, workhorse rescue vehicle. We rely on our firefighters and they do outstanding work. It’s imperative they have the best equipment and training possible to do their jobs safely and effectively,” said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, who annually hosts fire grant workshops to help fire departments across the state apply for federal grants, and has delivered $17 million over the last decade to enable the Providence Fire Department to invest in upgraded equipment, trucks, and new personnel. “I congratulate Mayor Elorza and the Providence Fire Department on winning this grant and putting the funds to good use. I will continue working at the federal level to assist our firefighters and ensure they have the tools needed to keep our communities safe.”
The total funding granted to the department was $974, 419 with $175,000 for the rescue and $799, 419 for a new ladder truck, which will be in service later this year. The City’s match on the grant for the two vehicles is $97, 441.
“This new ambulance will replace a vehicle well past its service life and is a welcome addition to Providence’s rescue fleet,” said Congressman Langevin, a senior member of the Committee on Homeland Security, which oversees the AFG program. “Today, the bulk of fire calls are actually for emergency medical services, and I will continue to fight funding to help the Providence Fire Department provide excellent service to our capital city.”
“This new rescue vehicle will be a tremendous asset to the Providence Fire Department and the residents they serve,” said Congressman Cicilline. “I will continue to advocate for investments in FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program which help our brave first responders get the necessary resources to do their job safely and effectively.”
In addition to Rescue 1, Engine 10 and Ladder 5 also provide fire services to the City out of the Broad Street station.
