Valley Breeze: Smithfield grants will fund communication upgrades

SMITHFIELD – Officials gathered Monday with local firefighters to announce a $477,677 federal grant for the Smithfield Fire Department.

Awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, the federal funds will help Smithfield update its current communications system and provide training for firefighters to better respond to a wide range of emergencies.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Gabe Amo joined local officials, including state Sen. David Tikoian, Town Manager Randy Rossi, and Councilors John Tassoni, Michael Iannotti, and Rachel Toppi.

Chief Robert Seltzer said an interesting fun fact about the Smithfield Fire Station at 63 Farnum Pike is that it was funded by President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. He said the Works Progress Administration paid to build the station in 1938.

Now, Smithfield is receiving another substantial federal grant to pay for communication upgrades for the Fire Department.

“The purpose of the grant is to provide multi-band portable two-way radios for every riding position of all of our fire and rescue apparatus. These portable radios provide the critical link that all firefighters rely upon for safe and efficient operations at all emergency calls,” Seltzer said.

According to Seltzer, the grant will provide portable radio compliance to the national standard, provide interoperability with mutual aid partners, and improve communication capabilities in commercial buildings where current equipment is ill-equipped.

“The impact of this grant to daily operations includes improved radio communications, increased firefighter safety, improved efficiencies on the fireground, ability of each firefighter to communicate on a mutual aid call, and access to the Rhode Island Interoperable Radio System,” Seltzer said.

Over the last several years, Seltzer said the SFD has received several AFG awards totaling more than $10 million. He said the success of the grant is due to the support of legislative partners and the work of town grant writer Lisa Andoscia.

Additionally, the radio project is aligned with the AFG program to strengthen preparedness and resilience along with providing critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel.

The $477,677 federal grant is part of a nearly $7 million federal grant for the fire departments and first responders that the Rhode Island congressional delegation helped make available this year.

“The town of Smithfield is very fortunate to have such a supportive federal delegation to help fund crucial projects with alternative funding sources. With these improvements to our communication system and training for our firefighters, it will further improve the quality of service that our outstanding Fire Department provides to the community,” said Rossi.

Iannotti said the grant is a tremendous benefit for the department. He said it will help fund needed upgrades to the department. Toppi thanked everyone who helped make the grant happen.

“We’re proud of our firefighters,” she stated.

Rossi said the important grant funding means that communication upgrades will not come from capital funds.

“We have the opportunity to cross this off the list sooner than later,” he said.

Whitehouse congratulated Smithfield for winning the grant.

“We fill up the bucket (as a delegation), but the fire departments have to win the grants. These are competitive grants,” he said.