NEWARK-U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced that fire departments inJersey City,Great Meadows, Ringwood, Tabernacle, and Rivertonwill receive federal grants totaling $727,546thatcan be investedinnew equipment and training or safety operations. The funding is awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) program.

"These federal grants will make sure our first responders are well equipped to continue answering the call,"said Senator Lautenberg, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which funds the AFG program. "Investing in our fire departments is essential to making sure our families are safe,andwe'll continueworkinghard to make sure they have the tools they need."

"Thanks to the AFG program, these five New Jersey towns will have the resources needed to keep dedicated firefighters on the job protecting our communities,"said Senator Menendez. "It is our duty to ensure our firefighters, who risk their lives every time they answer a call, have the tools needed to carry out their job safely and effectively. That's why I will continue fighting to protect these critical sources of funding that help keep our citizens and our first responders safe."

The grants will be awarded as follows:

  • Jersey City Department of Fire and Emergency Services will receive $640,000 forfire truckequipment.
  • Independence Township Volunteer Fire Departmentin Great Meadowswill receive $36,198 for operations and safety.
  • Skyline Lake Volunteer Fire Departmentin Ringwoodwill receive $25,698 for operations and safety.
  • Medford Farms Fire Companyin Tabernaclewill receive $17,100 for operations and safety.
  • Riverton Fire Department will receive $8,550 for operations and safety

The AFG program provides funding to enhance response capabilities, and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel.

###