WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) today announced a combined $8,323,238.43 to ensure New Jersey’s local fire departments and EMS squads are properly equipped and staffed to protect the communities they serve.

“Firefighters risk their lives each and every day to protect us and they deserve all the support and resources they can get,” said Sen. Menendez. “This important funding will help ensure our firefighters and EMS squads have the equipment, personal protective gear and personnel they need to both protect themselves and the residents and communities they serve.”

“Our brave firefighters selflessly put their lives on the line every day to protect us,” said Sen. Booker. “These grants will enable fire departments to respond swiftly to emergencies while maintaining their safety and keeping their communities secure.”

Rutgers University was awarded $1,494,685.71 in Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants, which are part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). FP&S grants are designed to reach high-risk target groups and mitigate deaths and injuries caused by fire and fire-related hazards.

“All people are kept safe by the actions and commitment of our firefighters. Our public health and the health of each of us and our families throughout our history is due in no small part to these first responders,” said Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH, Dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health and Hunterdon Professor of Public Health & Health Equity. “Ensuring that firefighters have the essentials to do their work efficiently and safely will be enhanced by this funding.”

The following departments have received Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to hire or retain firefighters in an effort to increase the number of frontline firefighters, enhance the ability of departments to attain and maintain 24-hour staffing, and assure that their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards:

  • $2,394,042.60 – Hackensack
  • $1,794,416.22 – Englewood
  • $1,516,568.40 – Ewing Township
  • $1,123,525.50 – Cinnaminson

Over the past few weeks, the senators announced a total $5.16 millionin AFG funding for departments across the state.