The West Hartford Fire Department is to receive roughly $550,000 in funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. West Hartford Assistant Chief Rich Winn said the $551,194 grant will purchase 53 new breathing units to replace units firefighters are now using – the current units are from 1995 and don't meet National Fire Protection Association standards, he said.
Additionally, the grant will cover training, as emergency standards have changed, Winn said. Firefighters will attend training at the Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks, Winn said.
Winn said the fire department applied for the FEMA funding last fall.