By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
A $20,000 state budget earmark will help firefighters transition to PFAS-free turnout gear, one of several investments the department is making as it prepares for rising call volumes, aging infrastructure and future facility needs.
The funding, secured by Sen. Paul Feeney (D-Foxboro) in the Senate’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, comes as a state law requiring all newly-purchased turnout gear to be PFAS-free takes effect in 2027. Fire Chief Christopher Coleman said the earmark will help offset the higher cost of the new gear.
“We’re starting to slowly transition into PFAS-free gear,” Coleman said. “This funding takes the strain off the departmental operating budget, because that’s where our funding for turnout gear comes from.”
A complete set of PFAS-free turnout gear costs about $4,800, compared with roughly $3,700 for traditional gear. The department recently received a state Fire Safety Grant that will fund three additional sets of PFAS-free gear, meaning seven firefighters in total could be outfitted with the new equipment over the next year if the earmark is approved.
Coleman said members of the department’s safety committee will be among the first to receive the gear so firefighters can evaluate its performance before larger purchases are made.
“We know PFAS does cause cancer, and firefighters are exposed every single day,” Coleman said.
With 60 firefighters on staff, replacing every set of turnout gear at once would cost more than $300,000, requiring the department to phase in the new equipment over multiple budget cycles.
In a statement announcing local earmarks, Feeney said investments in first responders remain a priority despite ongoing fiscal challenges.
“From resources for local first responders, including funding for new firefighter turnout gear and active shooter response equipment, to investments that help address substance misuse, support local arts and culture, and strengthen community health, this budget leads with our values and prioritizes the needs of our Senate District,” Feeney stated.
Investing in equipment and facilities
The turnout gear funding is one of several efforts underway to address long-term equipment and facility needs within the department.
North Attleborough’s proposed FY27 Capital Improvement Plan includes $285,000 to replace the roof at Fire Station 3 on Allen Avenue. Coleman said worsening leaks and repair costs have increased its urgency.
“It’s a 30-year-old roof that’s original to the building,” Coleman said. “It’s definitely at that point in time where if we keep having leaks, it affects the major envelope of the building.”
The capital plan also includes $50,000 for the first phase of a two-year replacement of self-contained breathing apparatuses used by firefighters during emergency operations. Thirteen air packs are approaching the manufacturer’s recommended 10-year service life, with seven scheduled for replacement this year and six next year.
Coleman said another long-term priority is the department’s aging headquarters, which dates to the 1800s and no longer meets many of the operational and space needs of a modern fire department.
“That is definitely our next priority need,” Coleman said.
Over the past decade, Coleman said call volume has increased by 48%. This year alone, firefighters have responded to roughly 2,300 calls for service, with emergency medical calls accounting for about 70% of the department’s workload.
“That’s definitely been challenging,” Coleman said, “but that’s a common theme throughout the entire fire service. Everyone’s run numbers are up.”
The department staffs 13 firefighters on duty each day and continues to evaluate future staffing needs as residential and commercial development expands throughout town.
To help address those needs, North Attleborough is applying for a federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant that could help fund additional firefighter positions over a three-year period.
As equipment costs rise and service calls continue to increase, Coleman said pursuing grants and state funding remains critical to reducing costs for local taxpayers while maintaining public safety services.
“The town manager and Town Council have been phenomenal with listening to our needs,” he said. “Part of my job is finding other funding sources that can offset the budget. It’s important that we find those sources to take the strain off the taxpayers of the town.”