Menendez, Lautenberg Announce Federal Funding for Beach Haven, Winfield, Burlington Township Fire Departments

WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced that fire departments in Beach Haven, Winfield, and Burlington Township will receive federal grants totaling $263,523. The funding, awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) and Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) programs, allows departments to avoid layoffs, hire and recruit new firefighters, and effectively protect the health and safety of first responders.

"These federal grants will help provide New Jersey fire departments with the tools and staffing they need to keep our communities safe," said Senator Lautenberg, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which funds the AFG and SAFER programs. "Firefighters must have the support to do their jobs and protect our families and we'll keep working hard to make sure they have the resources they need."

"Thanks to these federal programs, Burlington Township, Winfield and Beach Haven will have the resources needed to keep dedicated firefighters on the job responding to emergencies," said Senator Menendez. "I will continue fighting to protect these critical sources of funding that give our firefighters, who risk their lives every time they answer a call, the tools needed to carry out their job safely and effectively."

The funding will be distributed as follows:

Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Company will receive a $108,830 SAFER grant for recruitment.

Winfield Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $90,342 AFG grant for operations and safety.

Burlington Township Fire District will receive a $64,351 AFG grant for operations and safety.

The highly competitive SAFER grant program provides funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations in order to help them increase the number of trained "front line" firefighters in their communities. 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.

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