ST. AGATHA – Firefighters in St. Agatha will be cloaked in an extra layer of security thanks to $71,392 in federal grant money that will benefit the town’s volunteer Fire Department.

Paul Bernier, the town’s regional community development director, announced earlier this week that the funding came from the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters grant program.

The money will be used by the department to purchase personal protective equipment for the firefighters, a compressor unit and accessories that are used to refill air pack tanks owned by the department.

The town will provide a local contribution of $3,757.

Fire Chief Mark Chamberland said in a written statement that the firefighters were “very pleased” to receive the grant.

“Our department will make very good use of these funds and they will go a long way in improving our service and the protection of the town’s people,” he added.

Bernier noted that this marks the third grant the town has received under this program since 2002.

The primary goal of the grant program is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical services organizations.

St. Agatha was not the only town or city in the state to receive such funding.

The Bangor Fire Department received $135,000 under the program, and the Carmel Fire Department received $1,639.

News of the awards came in a statement by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.

“The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is an extremely critical source of funds for Maine’s fire and rescue personnel,” she said.

For information regarding the Assistance to Firefighters grant program and the recent award for the town of St. Agatha, contact Bernier at 543-7305 or pbernier@ainop.com.