Chief Steve Murphy is pleased to announce that the Hingham Fire Department has been awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The approximately $115,000 grant will fund the majority of the cost of 18 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to replace the department’s aging equipment. These AEDs will be placed on all fire department apparatus. 

The grant will also support the purchase of two Cardiac Monitors/Defibrillators. These machines can perform state-of-the-art EKG monitoring and defibrillation for patients with certain types of cardiac arrest. 

“I would like to thank FEMA for making this funding possible,” said Chief Murphy. “This award will make it possible for us to upgrade a critical piece of equipment. We’ve seen firsthand how important these devices are for saving lives, and we’re grateful to be able to have them as a resource.”

As a condition of the grant funding, the Town of Hingham is responsible for 10% of the cost of the equipment.

FEMA created AFG grants to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments. Since 2001, FEMA has awarded 2,169 AFG grants totaling $73 million to fire departments to fund and aid the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations.

Learn more about the Assistance to Firefighters Grant.