DERRY — Thanks to a $265,000 grant, three of the town's four fire stations will get a safety facelift.
Derry is the latest recipient in the federal Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. The town received more than $265,000 to help refurbish outdated fire stations, the second highest amount awarded in the state.
The Manchester Fire Department received a $625,800 grant earlier this year.
The total budget will be $294,000, according to fire Chief George Klauber. As part of the grant agreement, the town must contribute 10 percent of the total cost.
Klauber said the money will be used to install sprinkler systems at the department's Broadway, Warner Hill Road and Hampstead Road stations.
"These are all older stations that did not have sprinklers originally installed in them," he said.
Derry joins Salem, Londonderry, Kingston, Danville, Windham and Hampstead on the growing list of towns that have received economic assistance from the program. To date, 28 Granite State fire departments have received economic assistance totaling more than $1.9 million.
Town Councilor Brian Chirichiello said any grant money the town could get was positive.
"It's long overdue," Chirichiello said. "It's going to help protect the town's assets."
The town will have one year to complete the project. Klauber said the department will move quickly to request proposals for contractors to install sprinklers and associated water lines.
New sprinkler systems will better protect expensive fire apparatus — and firefighters, he said.
"Accidents can happen in a fire station as well as any other building," Klauber said.
In addition to the physical improvements for the fire department, the project will improve the department in other ways.
"As we go out and ask other people to bring their buildings up to code, it's important for us to lead by example," Klauber said.
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