Stimulus funds put Mass. firefighters back to work

FALL RIVER, Mass.—Massachusetts is using $8.1 million in federal stimulus dollars to rehire 127 firefighters in 13 cities and towns.

Gov. Deval Patrick, touring a new fire station in Fall River, said the vacancies were the result of layoffs and attrition forced by the economic downturn.

“Every single one of those Fall River firefighters has a job again,“ Patrick said. “Every single one of those 33 firefighters laid off in New Bedford has a job again.“

Corey Garside is one of 44 Fall River firefighters laid off in March who will go back to work.

“A tough economy, two incomes coming in, barely surviving—and then to lose one is really tough. But now, it’s a happy day. So, everything should be back to normal, we hope,“ Garside said.

The money is the first round of awards to fire departments from $20 million in stimulus discretionary funds set aside by the Patrick administration to help fire departments deal with staffing reductions caused by the recession.

Patrick said he’ll work for more funds.

“It’s a patch, it’s not a permanent solve—and let’s be clear about that. I think for the folks who were laid off and have their jobs back, they’ll take that patch,“ Patrick said.

In addition to Fall River and New Bedford, the communities set to receive a portion of the $8.1 million include Bridgewater, Easton, Hull, Lakeville, Lawrence, Methuen, Monson, North Attleborough, Quincy, Walpole and Worcester.

Municipal police departments are set to receive $45 million in stimulus money.

NBC 10 News contributed to this report.