Dearborn Fire Chief Joseph Murray tells the City Council during its April 8 meeting that the Fire Department was awarded a $5 million Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Grant for facility projects and improvements, with no matching funds required.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – The Fire Department received a $5 million Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Grant, Fire Chief Joseph Murray announced at the April 8 City Council meeting.
The council unanimously accepted the grant. No matching funds are required, and the money is intended for facility projects and improvements.
A recent facility assessment was conducted by a third party on all Fire Department properties, and the improvements needed will soon be put out for bid.
The infrastructure improvements will help support Fire Department facility emergency services for years to come.
“We are very excited about this project,” Murray said. “I’ve been here 20 years and this is probably the single biggest investment that we’ve put into these fire stations.”
He said the fire stations are 59 years old, so the grant will come in handy in a lot of different ways.
Murray said firefighters now have two sets of turnout gear, so when they return from a fire, one set can immediately get cleaned to remove hazardous chemicals, while another set of turnout gear is ready for the next run. Newer stations have areas to accommodate the turnout gear transition, while older stations need to be modified to accommodate the process.