Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed met with Prudence Island Volunteer Fire Department Chief Louis Lepere to help volunteer firefighters dedicate the department’s new pumper, the senator said in a press release.
Reed helped to deliver a $357,142 federal grant through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to acquire the engine and ensure PIVFD firefighters have the modern tools needed to safely and effectively serve residents of and visitors to Prudence Island.
The new pumper replaces a nearly 50-year-old vehicle that was in disrepair and provides PIVFD with a wide variety of new safety features and modern systems to help enhance the safety of firefighters and the public. With over 80% of the Island designated as conservation land, the new pumper increases maneuverability over a variety of terrain and significantly enhances reliability for the geographically isolated volunteer fire department.
