New Jersey Receives $1,822,556 to Assist Local Fire Departments in Latest Round of Grants
The Final Round Thirty-Five Of The Assistance To Firefighters Grants To Aid America's Fire Departments Announced By FEMA

Release Date: March 5, 2004 Release number: R2-04-003b

New York City, N.Y. -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced the final 141 grants to fire departments throughout the U.S. in the thirty-fifth round of the fiscal year 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. Included in the announcement of this latest round were awards for four communities in New Jersey, including grants to West Berlin, Lanoka Harbor, Medford, Howell, Hillsdale, Wanaque, Milford, Paterson, Totowa, Little Ferry, Helmetta, Tinton Falls, Port Reading and East Newark.

“President Bush’s request and the appropriation by Congress of these funds demonstrate this nation’s commitment to support America’s firefighters,” said Brown. “The Department of Homeland Security through FEMA and USFA staff have distributed the FY 2003 funds a full three months ahead of schedule further demonstrating our desire to provide the important tools and programs needed to protect our first responders and the communities they serve.”

This thirty-fifth round of grants provides over $15 million to help local fire departments fund the purchase of firefighting equipment, fund firefighter health and safety programs, enhance emergency medical services programs, and conduct fire prevention and safety programs. Since June, a total of 8630 fire departments have received over $695 million to support their role as first responders in the neighborhoods and communities they serve as firefighters.

Grants have been made available to the following fire departments in New Jersey:

• Berlin Township Fire District #1, West Berlin – $213,579 for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety.
• Lanoka Harbor Volunteer Fire Company #1, Lanoka Harbor – $113,652 for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety.
• Medford Fire Division, Medford – $177,976 for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety.
• Southard Fire Department, Howell – $187,200 for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety.
• Hillsdale Fire Department, Hillsdale – $141,509 for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety.
• Wanaque Borough Fire Department, Wanaque – $197,349 for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety.
• Milford Fire Company, Inc., Milford – $110,702 for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety.
• Paterson Fire Department, Paterson – $136,751 for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety.
• Totowa Fire Department, Totowa – $196,959 for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety.
• Little Ferry Fire Department, Little Ferry – $46,058 for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety.
• Helmetta Fire Department, Helmetta – $123,242 for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety.
• Tinton Falls Board of Fire Commissioners, District 2, Tinton Falls – $87,300 for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety.
• Board of Fire Commissioners District #2, Port Reading – $74,218 for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety.
• East Newark Volunteer Fire Company, East Newark – $16,061 for Fire Prevention.

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), administers the Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program. The program assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States. A list of all current award recipients announced to date is posted on the USFA web site at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/grants. Future grant recipients will be listed as awards are made.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.