WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Jeff Chiesa (R-NJ) today announced three grant awards from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program totaling $770,428for fire companies serving Deal, Bordentown, Englishtown, Berkeley Heights, Cherry Hill, Rutherford and New Gretna. The funding is awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs.

"When emergencies erupt in our communities, our firefighters are ready to respond to protect our families and neighbors," said Senator Menendez. "Our firefighters deserve nothing less than our best efforts to help them obtain the training, equipment and personnel they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. That's the objective of the AFG and SAFER programs, and why I am committed to fighting for these programs on behalf of our firefighters who protect our communities."

"In times of crisis, every family wants to believe our first responders will have the best tools and knowledge to meet each emergency. This grant funding is critically important to providing firefighters with the operations and training they require," said Senator Chiesa.

From the federal awards announced today:

  • the Deal Fire Company No. 2 will receive a $226,195 AFG grant for operations and safety.
  • the Consolidated Fire Association in Bordentown City will receive a $189,407 AFG grant for operations and safety.
  • the Englishtown Fire Department will receive a $122,697 SAFER grant for operations and safety.
  • the Berkeley Heights Fire Department will receive a $105,274 AFG grant for operations and safety.
  • the Cherry Hill Fire Department will receive an $82,680 AFG grant for operations and safety.
  • the Rutherford Fire Department will receive a $36,575 AFG grant for operations and safety.
  • the New Gretna Volunteer Fire Company will receive a $7,600 AFG grant for operations and safety.

The AFG program provides funding to enhance response capabilities, as well as to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel. These grants can be invested in training, protective equipment, fitness programs, modifications to facilities, and supplies that support firefighting 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.

For more information about the AFG program, please visit: http://www.fema.gov/firegrants.

For more information about the SAFER program, please visit: http://www.fema.gov/staffing-adequate-fire-emergency-response-grants.

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