Mass. To Hire 127 Firefighters With Stimulus Funds

Massachusetts is using $8.1 million in federal stimulus dollars to rehire 127 firefighters in 13 cities and towns.

Gov. Deval Patrick said the vacancies were the result of layoffs and attrition forced by the ongoing budget crunch.

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.

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

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