YANTIC, Conn. -- The fire departments in metro Norwich have received a new black box that allows them to communicate on a unified channel.

Thanks to a $282,000 grant, mutual responders at the 17 departments in the area were able to purchase the new technology. Officials said the equipment allows agencies with different radios, frequencies, makes and models to talk to each other by integrating the signals on one designated channel.

Yantic Fire Chief Frank Blanchard said one of the biggest fires in the region occurred last April at Peachtree Garden. He said 20 agencies responded to the blaze, which forced 150 people out of their homes.

After that, Blanchard said he applied for the federal grant to get a BAE interoperable radio system. Now, he said, the 17 departments that include 25 stations will be better equipped to cover the 227-square-mile area and the 107,000 residents who live there.