WILBRAHAM – The Wilbraham Fire Department has received $128,571.43 for three power stretchers and stretcherπ–ambulance load systems as part of $59 million in grants to through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.

Power stretchers extend the legs of a stretcher with the push of a button rather than the emergency personnel lifting the patient on the unit.

"Throughout Western Mass., EMS and fire personnel experience a lot of back injuries lifting patients," Fire Capt. Anthony Arventos explained to Reminder Publishing. While the power stretchers help, the EMS or paramedics would still need to lift the stretcher into the back of the ambulance.

"The new system has an arm that extends and can pick up the stretcher and load it into the ambulance," Arventos said. He added that the system can be attached to the ambulances the town already has.

The purpose of the AGF program is to supply fire departments with equipment and training not provided for in municipal budgets. Wilbraham has applied for and received several such grants in the past.

In total, 392 fire departments across the country received AFG funds from fiscal year 2019. Other Massachusetts fire departments that were awarded funds from the The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program include:
• Barre Ð Federal share of $82,762 for vehicle extrication equipment
• Beverly Ð Federal share of $165,909 for portable and mobile radios
• Brewster Ð Federal share of $28,950 for vehicle extrication equipment
• Canton Ð Federal share of $103,091 for wellness & fitness equipment
• Chelsea Ð Federal share of $315,152 for Hazardous Materials training
• Eastham Ð Federal share of $47,714 for an air compressor Ð air refill system
• Falmouth Ð Federal share of $194,182 for two power stretchers, two ambulance power load systems, and an air compressor system
• Gardner Ð Federal share of $248,182 for firefighter breathing apparatus
• Onset Fire District, Wareham Ð Federal share of $69,856 for an air compressor-air refill system
• Quincy Ð Federal share of $104,482 for firefighter personal escape systems and firefighter training
• Rockland Ð Federal share of $ 67,120 for Active Shooter Ð Mass Casualty training
• Scituate Ð Federal share of $60,000 for seven Thermal Imaging cameras
• Seekonk Ð Federal share of $42,857 for five Thermal Imaging Cameras
• Sherborn Ð Federal share of $140,000 for firefighter breathing apparatus
• Somerville Ð Federal share of $254,840 for Hazardous Materials training
• Tewksbury Ð Federal share of $43,551 for Fire Instructor training
• Topsfield Ð Federal share of $11,333 for seven automatic cardiac defibrillators
• Truro Ð Federal share of $134,268 for two power stretchers and two ambulance power load systems
• Waltham Ð Federal share of $328,587 for fire officer training
• Warwick Ð Federal share of $80,000 for firefighter breathing apparatus
• West Springfield Ð Federal share of $40,909 for five Thermal Imaging Cameras
• Westwood Ð Federal share of $56,190 for a firefighter wellness and fitness program
• Wrentham Ð Federal share of $91,428 for a fire sprinkler system for the headquarters station
• Yarmouth Ð Federal share of $112,727 for vehicle extrication equipment

More information about FEMAÕs Assistance to Firefighters grant program can be found at www.fema.gov/firegrants.