The Plaistow Fire Department has been awarded a $126,592 grant aimed at first responders to help prevent, prepare for and respond to impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
New Hampshire Department of Justice awarded the competitive grant for efforts undertaken by Fire Chief Chris C. Knutsen following New Hampshire Gov. Christopher T. Sununu’s March 13 executive order.
Knutsen immediately implemented several changes to the Plaistow Fire Department’s response capabilities. These included buying an advanced online training platform to maintain continuity for preparation, continuing education and readiness; adding two on-duty personnel from 6 p.m.-6 a.m. to provide for pre-hospital emergency medical care and purchasing specialized decontamination equipment. Specific COVID-19 policies and procedures were also authored and adopted to protect first responders and the public.
The grant entirely reimburses the town for costs related to personnel ($122,335), equipment ($1,547.) and training ($2,709).