Washington - U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today announced four New Jersey communities received $576,000 in federal funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. These grants can be invested in training, equipment, personal protective equipment, health programs, and other support for stations and facilities.

"Firefighters put their lives on the line to protect our families. Putting firefighters at greater risk simply isn't an option," Menendez said. "These investments will provide them with the modern equipment and cutting-edge training to do their jobs and do them safely. Emergencies don't wait for flush budget years, and neither will we."

"New Jersey's firefighters are ready to roll at the sound of the alarm and we must be certain they have the best equipment and training available to handle the job safely and effectively," said Lautenberg, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which funds the AFG grant program. "As cities and towns across the state struggle with tight budgets, I am working in the Senate to ensure that federal funding for public safety in New Jersey communities remains a priority."

The $576,941 in AFG grants will be distributed as follows:

• Livingston - $188,640 to the Livingston Fire Department for safety gear.
• West New York - $171,920 to the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue for safety gear.
• Barrington - $114,233 to the Barrington Fire Company #1 for safety gear and training.
• Springfield - $102,148 to the Springfield Fire Department for equipment and training.

The AFG grants are awarded to fire departments and EMS organizations to improve their capacity to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel in fire related emergencies.

For more information about the programs, please visit: http://www.firegrantsupport.com/

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