Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) announced today that the Borough of Neptune City has received an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) award for nearly $60,000 to purchase critically-needed self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

    "This important FEMA grant will help protect firefighters in harm’s way,” said Smith, a long-time member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. “Firefighters need the proper equipment to survive in smoke-filled environment. Neptune is an all-volunteer company and its members need this funding to safely do their jobs—protecting the lives, homes and businesses of the people they serve.”

    The funds will be used for the purchase of a dozen sets of SCBA gear. The new equipment will replace older sets that are out of compliance and unreliable.

    The award, for $59,850, comes through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants Operations and Safety Grant Program. It is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. The purpose of AFG is to award grants directly to fire departments and non-affiliated Emergency Medical Services organizations (EMS) to protect both the health and safety of the public, and first-responder personnel as well. A competitive process overseen by fire service subject matter experts awards grants to applicants whose requests are aligned with the priorities of the AFG Program. For more about the FY 2013 AFG Program please visit http://www.fema.gov/assistance-firefighters-grant.

    This is round 18 of the competitive FY 2013 fire grant announcements. Smith, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, voted to create the equipment grant program in 2000. Congress created the program to upgrade capabilities of local firefighters to respond to fires and fire-related hazards, such as vehicular accidents.

    Congressman Smith, who represents New Jersey’s Fourth Congressional District in the House of Representatives, has offices in Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean Counties.  The Monmouth County office is located at 112 Village Center Drive, Raintree Towne Center, 2^nd floor.  The phone number is (732) 780-3035.

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