BLACKWOOD, NJ – Today, U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) announced that seven fire departments, including Fire Districts 2, 4, 5 and 6 in Gloucester Township, the Pine Hill Fire Department, the Lindenwold Fire Department and the Deptford Fire Department, have been awarded a $1,194,313 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG).

This grant will allow these seven departments to receive state of the art equipment that will improve their services. The equipment, like breathing apparatuses, will also help keep our firefighters safe, especially in smoke-filled areas and other hazardous atmospheres.

Click here to view or download photos from the announcement in Blackwood, NJ.

“This grant for South Jersey Fire Departments will help protect those who are protecting us,” said Congressman Donald Norcross, “We must do all we can to ensure our firefighters are as safe as possible when they are battling fires and saving lives. This funding provides our first responders with the equipment they need to best serve our communities day in and day out.”

“The Chews Landing Fire Department is proud to serve as the host agency for this Regional FEMA Grant. The federal funding of 1.1 million dollars will allow the seven participating departments to replace our inventory of two hundred and four obsolete breathing apparatus with brand new state of the art equipment. The funding will keep our members safer while protecting the 123,000 residents of our region, and will relieve the taxpayers of the burden of this major capital purchase,” said Administrator William Robb of the Gloucester Township Fire District.

“Congressman Norcross and his New Jersey colleagues have consistently advocated for adequate funding for the Federal Government’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which has funded this grant. The awarding of this grant will result in several hundred thousand dollars of savings for each of the named Fire Districts,” said Chief William Dukes of the Pine Hill Fire Department.

Norcross has consistently advocated for grant applications for Fire Departments in South Jersey and his office supported this application to update and standardize their protective equipment.

The AFG program ensures that fire departments around the country are properly equipped with the tools they need to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and first responders obtain equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other needed resources to strengthen fire departments’ ability to respond to fire hazards.

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Contact: Ally Kehoe, Communications Director
ally.kehoe@mail.house.gov