$18,700 flows in from state to update aging hydrants
Funds from the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program will go towards replacing large hydrant assist valves.
The Acton Fire Department has won an $18,710 state grant to replace aging hydrant equipment, a move officials say will improve safety.
With funding from the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program, the department plans to replace several large hydrant assist valves, or HAVs, along with smaller gate valves for side ports.
“The valves we’re replacing are at least 20 years old,” Fire Chief Brian Whitney said.
The current equipment has been rebuilt multiple times but is now beyond repair, Whitney said.
While the hydrant leaks don’t significantly affect flow during emergencies, he said, “It’s just a waste of water, and it’s a hazard on the ground in the wintertime.”
The department expects to complete the replacements in the next few months. The grant, administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and the Department of Fire Services, requires work to be finished by the end of the fiscal year, with reimbursement requests due by July 24.
The department regularly applies for state grants and has previously secured funding for radios, water rescue gear, and other equipment. Whitney said the awards help offset costs that taxpayers would otherwise shoulder.
