Worcester firefighters | InCity Times

The Department of Homeland Security announced today that the Worcester Fire Department has been awarded $2.7 million in a Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant.

“Maintaining strong public safety staffing levels for our police and fire departments has been a priority of our city. This grant will be used to partially fund the new class of thirty firefighters that will be going through the academy soon,” said Mayor Joseph M. Petty. “These are the men and women who keep us safe and we need each and every one of them.”

The 2.7 million dollars over two years will fund seventeen of the thirty new firefighters whose positions were appropriated in the latest budget. The new class of firefighters was a stated priority of Mayor Petty and was duly passed by the City Council during budget deliberations in June.

“This fire grant is terrific news for Worcester,” Senator Elizabeth Warren said. “This federal funding recognizes the outstanding work of Mayor Petty, Chief Gardell, and the entire Worcester Fire Department, and I am very glad it will help keep hardworking firefighters on the job protecting our communities.”

Congressman James McGovern said, “With this grant, the Worcester Fire Department will have the resources they need to be able to hire additional firefighters and continue to protect our families and neighborhoods. I am grateful to FEMA for making this investment in our community and to all of our Worcester firefighters and their families for the sacrifices they make to help keep all of us safe.”

“Worcester firefighters provide their community with world-class protection 24 hours a day, every day. This grant will help us maintain a full complement of firefighters and allow the Worcester Fire Department to uphold those high standards,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. “I want to thank our federal legislators for their consistent advocacy and FEMA for these vital funds that will help keep Worcester safe.”

The purpose of the grant is to allow cities and towns to preserve the number of firefighters in department ranks, and to accordingly enhance both response time and preparedness.

“This is great for the Worcester Fire Department. With the recent retirements we’ve seen the new class of firefighters will help us to maintain our current staffing levels for the next two years,” said Fire Chief Geoffrey Gardell.

The Worcester Fire Department and Bridgewater Fire Department both received SAFER grants in this round of funding; Bridgewater received 1.6 million dollars. The grant is awarded by the Department of Homeland Security through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

15th Annual Worcester Firefighters 6K Road Race!!!

June 14

Institute Park (Salisbury Street)

6K will start at 11:30 a.m.

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO: www.wfd6k.com

ON LINE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN ON REGISTRATION PAGE!

The WFD6K Road Race was started after the devastating loss of our six brothers in the Worcester Cold Storage Fire back on December 3, 1999.

The nonprofit proceeds from this event have changed since its conception: At first we donated the proceeds to help raise money for the permanent Memorial being built in the memory of our fallen brothers. After the first year (in which all the proceeds were donated to the Memorial) we decided to give back to our community – our way of saying thank you for all the support that was given to us during the tragedy.

From humble beginnings, this race quickly evolved into Worcester’s biggest community and family oriented charitable event.

For the past 15 years, the Worcester Firefighters 6K Road Race has touched more lives than we ever thought possible. To date, we have donated over $500,000 to local charities.

Our 3 primary, well deserving charities, that we feel best represent the goals of the WFD6K are:

NEADS, dogs for deaf and disabled Americans

Genesis Club [support, education, social activities for folks with disabilities]

Community Harvest Project [growing farm-fresh food for the hungry, children, needy in our community]

We have also donated to the Remembrance Wall and the Jon Davies Memorial both located in front of the Franklin Street Fire Station which has become our personal Memorial to our Fallen Brothers.

Each year our event is grounded in commemorating our fallen brothers, a fitting tribute to keep their memory alive.

Our committee is overwhelmed by the continuing support we receive from the WFD6K runners, volunteers and sponsors, all of whom have become part of our family.

The race is unlike any other race around, our race day focus is not simply on the race itself, nor is it the focus on the charitable donations.

It is more about the community and bringing the city and surrounding towns together as we celebrate the spirit of the day – block party style!

Everyone is invited to join us at the finish line for a free BBQ, live music, beverages, clowns, moonwalk, massages, a silent auction and a post race party at Tweed’s and so much more.

We have been told by many that our race kick off is a sight to behold, which includes a performance by the Worcester Firefighter Pipes and Drums. The race itself starts and ends at Institute Park running under two aerial ladder trucks draping the American Flag. The course is a figure 8 that runs by the Grove Street Fire Station and downtown Worcester. Our participants span from the area’s best athletes and most competitive runners to those who casually can enjoy walking and reflecting on the moment.

The memory of our fallen brothers (Paul, Jay, Jerry, Joe, Tom, Tim, and Jon) will never die as long as we keep this event going. With the help of our runners / walkers and sponsors it will continue to live on.

So please help the WFD6K continue to give back to the Worcester community and local nonprofit charities by joining us again this year.

As always thank you for your consideration and support.

For more information and details about this race and other ways you can help our efforts, please feel free to contact:

Lt. John Franco at 774-696-1826