Leardi announces $52k in Fire Protection Grant for Amherstburg

Essex MPP Anthony Leardi (centre) announces a Fire Protection Grant for Amherstburg Monday night. At left is fire chief Michael Mio and Mayor Michael Prue is at right.

Amherstburg has received over $52,000 in a provincial Fire Prevention Grant with a formal announcement coming Monday night.

Essex MPP Anthony Leardi announced the grant in the council chambers, just prior to Monday night’s town council meeting. Flanked by Amherstburg fire chief Michael Mio, Leardi said the grant will help protect firefighters from hazards they face while fighting blazes.

Leardi said there are often chemicals that are emitted into the air during a fire and that the grant is helping fire departments and municipalities protect their firefighters.

Mio said the money will be used on new equipment to protect firefighters. Upgraded washing facilities will also be purchased with the grant funding to ensure firefighters become free of toxic chemicals when they return from

a fire.

A breakdown of the equipment is five sets of bunker gear, along with five helmets, five pairs of boots, ten pairs of gloves, and protective hoods. The project also includes the a new gear washer extractor for proper cleaning and decontamination of personal protective equipment, as well as renovations to the fire station to improve decontamination shower facilities, helping reduce occupational exposure to harmful contaminants.

Prue said Amherstburg is very appreciative of the funding. He said the town received the grant but not all municipalities in Ontario will be able to say the same, giving credit to Mio and his department for writing a successful grant application.

“We will spend it wisely,” Prue said of the $52,821.07 grant.

The announcement is one of five Leardi is making this week. The announcement in Amherstburg was the first with Leardi making a similar one in Kingsville Tuesday. A third grant announcement is scheduled for today (Wednesday) at noon in Lakeshore and a fourth in Essex later today. Leardi is planning to cap the week with his fifth announcement Friday afternoon in LaSalle.

By Ron Giofu