LAKEVILLE — The Lakeville Fire Department has been awarded a $230,000 Assistance to Firefighters Grant.

 The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program is a competitive federal grant initiative designed to help municipalities manage the financial burden of delivering fire protection and emergency medical services to their communities. 

The funding will be used to replace existing antiquated or failing personal protective equipment. Expenditures will be for must-have items that would have otherwise been funded through local taxes.

 Fire Chief Michael O'Brien commended Lt. Ryan Silvia, who authored the grant application. Grant applications are labor-intensive, complicated and can be easily botched, the chief said.

Silvia delivered an application that was not only approved but was among the first few award announcements, meaning the application was rated very high, O’Brien said.

The Lakeville Fire Department thanked Lakeville Select Board members Rich LaCamera, Lia Fabian, and Lorraine Carboni for voting to authorize this and other grant writing efforts. The department also thanked U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey and State Rep. Jake Auchincloss for their support.