Newark - U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced five New Jersey fire departments have received more than $1.7 million in federal funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. Eligible uses of this grant funding include investments in training, equipment, vehicle acquisition, health programs, and facility modifications.
"Firefighters put their lives on the line every day and we must ensure they have the resources and training to do their job," said Senator Lautenberg, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which funds the AFG program. "With so many municipalities facing tough budget decisions, this direct federal investment in our local firefighters is especially important to the safety of our communities. We will continue working to make sure our first responders are well prepared to keep families in New Jersey and across the country safe."
"Our firefighters need to have the resources they need to protect themselves and our families in case of a fire emergency," said Senator Menendez. "These funds will allow local fire departments to purchase the most modern safety equipment available and boost their capacity to respond in case of a fire. This is the very least we can do for the safety of our first responders, our families, and our communities."
The federal grants have been awarded to the following departments:
South Orange Fire Department - $665,000 for vehicle acquisition
Middletown Township Fire Department - $465,320 for operations and safety
Hoboken Fire Department - $272,697 for operations and safety
Ocean Township Fire District 1 - $175,468 for operations and safety
Clark Volunteer Fire Department - $136,040 for operations and safety
###
