Media Release | M.P.P. Clark Announces $401,404 Fire Protection Grant Program Funding

By Township of Leeds & the Thousand Islands - Dec 17, 2025

News

Media Release - Monday, December 16, 2025

Local Municipal Fire Departments to Receive $401,404 Through Ontario's Fire Protection Grant Program. Province doubling funding available for program from $10 million to $20 million

BROCKVILLE — Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, joined local fire chiefs and mayors today to announce fire departments in Leeds and Grenville will receive $401,404 through Ontario’s Fire Protection Grant program.

This year, the government has doubled Fire Protection Grant funding available to municipal fire departments through the Ministry of the Solicitor General from $10 million to $20 million. This application-based grant provides municipal fire services with funding to purchase equipment and supplies for cancer prevention initiatives, equipment to address lithium-ion battery fires, as well as infrastructure upgrades and modernization.

“The health and safety of the brave men and women of our local fire departments, who run toward danger when responding to emergencies and protecting our communities, is a top priority for me and our government,” said MPP Clark. “When I met with local fire chiefs earlier this year, they told me Fire Protection Grant funding is vital to provide firefighters with the equipment they need. I was proud to advocate on their behalf. I’m so pleased we have doubled funding for this program so I can deliver on my commitment to local fire chiefs.”

Funding for each local municipal fire department along with a description of the project being funded is as follows:

FIRE DEPARTMENT	PROJECT SUMMARY	FUNDING
Athens	Installation of truck exhaust recovery system for all four bays of fire hall.	$16,000
Augusta	Purchase spare SCBA straps, padding and regulators to allow routine cleaning, and purchase 2 EV fire blankets.	$33,080
Brockville	Purchase: 33 gloves, 33 hoods, 38 bunker gear, an air exchange unit, and a wall install, air exchange install, masonry, and engineering.	$36,223
Edwardsburgh Cardinal	Purchase and installation of three industrial-grade air cleaning units at Station #1.	$36,223
Elizabethtown-Kitley	Purchase and install two additional washer extractors to better serve our members in post incident decontamination. Purchase two SCBA face piece drying towers to thoroughly dry face pieces after decontamination is complete. Purchase 60 PFAS free filtering type flash hoods for all members. Purchase stock cleaning solution and decon wipes to allow all members access to these resources. Purchase one portable decontamination kit. Purchase three EV fire nozzles and three EV fire blankets for each station.	$52,821
Front of Yonge	Purchase of 5 4.5L SCBA bottles, 6 SCBA masks, 6 Innotex particulate blocking hoods, 6 protective bags for SCBA face masks, and 6 firefighting gloves.	$14,527
Gananoque	Personal Protective Equipment, specifically five (5) sets of bunker gear - Innotex Coats and Pants.	$18,175
Leeds and the Thousand Islands	Purchase 2 Quick Response Showers for decon, 4 gear washer/extractors, 3 bunker gear dryer units and 38 particulate blocking hoods.	$64,840
Merrickville-Wolford	Purchase wildland firefighting coveralls.	$19,626
North Grenville	Purchase of 2 gear washers, 2 soap injectors and detergents, 2 gear dryers and one Decon PAK system.	$32,000
Prescott	Purchase 24 sets of gloves, balaclavas and helmet liners. Purchase specialty nozzle, foam and refillable extinguisher for Lithium Ion incident responses.	$15,883
Rideau Lakes	Purchase 60 pairs of gloves, an extraction washing machine, Gear Guard 4 detergent, a PPE portable dryer, an industrial drying rack, and ventilated gear storage lockers.	$62,004

QUOTES:

“Brockville Fire Department expresses its sincere appreciation for the provincial government’s continued support through the Fire Protection Grant. The government's investment in cancer-prevention PPE and decontamination equipment represents a significant advancement in our efforts to enhance firefighter safety. We gratefully acknowledge the province’s commitment and recognition in this second phase of the grant program.”

Chief Melanie Jones, Brockville Fire Department

“On behalf of Merrickville Fire Department, I want to thank the province for this critical funding opportunity. This grant allows us to invest in equipment and safeguards that directly impact our firefighters by reducing their risk of occupational cancer. Protecting those who protect our communities is something we take very seriously, and this provincial support strengthens our ability to do that.”

Chief Brad Cole, Merrickville Fire Department

“The Rideau Lakes Fire Rescue is very grateful to be a recipient of the Fire Protection Grant. This funding will enable us to acquire much-needed equipment that supports cancer-prevention measures for our firefighters.”

Chief Gene Richardson, Rideau Lakes Fire Department

“I would like to thank the Provincial Government for its continued support of the Ontario Fire Service. This support is especially vital for small municipalities that may not have the same resources as larger, urban communities. The Fire Protection Grant has benefited Augusta Fire Rescue in two key areas:

• Enhancing our ability to respond to incidents involving lithium-ion batteries through improved equipment, and

• Providing essential equipment, supplies, and PPE to support cancer prevention for our firefighters.

There is nothing more important than ensuring our firefighters return home safely each day and enjoy long, healthy lives with their families.”

Chief Rob Bowman, Augusta Fire Department

“Everyone in the Fire Service appreciates the provincial government’s commitment to protecting our firefighters and making the funds available to work towards that goal.”

Chief Jeff Sargent, Elizabethtown-Kitley Fire Department