Greater Fall River (MA) fire departments are getting nearly $94,000 in grants to purchase safety equipment, reports heraldnews.com.

The state awarded a total of $5 million to 306 fire departments across Massachusetts via its Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program.

Departments receiving funds include:

• Fall River: $34,930
• Freetown: $15,500
• Somerset: $16,401.19
• Swansea: $13,424.79
• Westport: $13,645.62

Departments are permitted to use the money to buy any of the 118 types of eligible safety gear, including personal protective clothing, washers and dryers, thermal imaging cameras, tools and extrication equipment, communications gear, hazardous gas meters, and fitness equipment. They can also use it to buy equipment to help comply with OSHA or NFPA safety standards.

After hearing of the devastating tornadoes in KY, the Rochester (MA) Fire Department decided to do something. Cayce—with its population of about 150 people—was hit especially hard, the department learned. It was then that they sprung into action.

The apparatus arrived at its final destination Wednesday. The former Rochester Tanker 198 made its 1,036-mile journey and was welcomed by several members of the Fulton County Fire Department.

The DeLand (FL) Fire Department is holding the grand opening of its Station 81 on Saturday at 9 a.m.

Located at 343 W Howry Ave., the new station is 16,000 square feet and cost $5.5 million. The old Station 81, at 201 W. Howry Ave., was around 9,000 square feet.

Its predecessor will be torn down and made into a public parking lot, officials say.

“Please join us in the grand opening celebration of the new DeLand Fire Department Station 81 and DeLand Police Department Evidence Building!” the department writes on Facebook.

“The event will include remarks from Mayor Apgar, Fire Chief Todd Allen, and Police Chief Jason Umberger. Open house style tours of Station 81 will be available. Light refreshments will be provided.”

Not even Tropical Storm Ida could stop the Somerville (NJ) Fire Department’s octogenarian Engine 5.

Department officials spent four months restoring the vintage apparatus after it was submerged in floodwaters in last September’s storm, reports tapinto.net.

With the hardened residue on the floorboards—amongst other damage, including to the engine and transmission—removed, the 1942 Mack L95S Antique is just about ready to resume its ceremonial duties of parades and firefighter funerals.

The apparatus was trapped inside the East Main Street station along the Peters Brook during the storm’s worst, the report says. A few feet of water made its way into the facility and submerged the truck for a few days until the water subsided.

Days later, the apparatus was transported via flatbed to a dry barn in Warren County. It was then dried out and restored by department members, according to the report. It was driven back to Somerville under its own power, and officials say it’s running better than it ever has.

The apparatus has a 1,000-gallon-per-minute pump, a 300-gallon tank, and a hose bed retrofitted as a casket for firefighter funerals.