U.S. Rep. Smith today announced that fire companies in Burlington City and Burlington Township have won important federal grants to help with the purchases of a replacement fire truck and turnout gear—boots, helmets, and fire and water-resistant pants and jackets.
Congressman Chris Smith today announced that fire companies in Burlington City and Burlington Township have won important federal grants to help with the purchases of a replacement fire truck and turnout gear—boots, helmets, and fire and water-resistant pants and jackets.
The all-volunteer Burlington City Fire Department will receive $261,250 toward the purchase of a new pumper fire truck to replace two models from 1986 and 1978. City firefighters will also receive $188,708 to purchase replacement protective gear for its 90 volunteers.
“These are substantial federal grants to help Burlington City buy a new fire truck and get its volunteers the boots, helmets and protective fire suits needed to safely carry out their mission,” Smith said. “This critical protective equipment has become very expensive for small towns and small fire stations, which makes this federal support so important.”
The Burlington Township Fire District No. 1 will receive $65,430 for the purposes of purchasing extrication equipment used to free victims trapped in motor vehicle accidents or structural collapse. The township received $85,212 last year toward the purchase of 50 sets of turnout gear.
“The Burlington Township Fire Department responds to highway crashes and road emergencies on Route 130, I-295 and the New Jersey Turnpike,” Smith said. “Having updated and sophisticated equipment to carefully extricate victims trapped in crushed vehicles or collapsed structures will help reduce injury and in some cases save lives.”
The competitive grants Smith announced are provided through the US Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. This award is made under the 2nd round of the Fiscal Year 2009 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program as provided by PL 101-329, legislation Smith supported.
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. The grant requires recipients to pay five percent of a purchase.
“Modern firefighting equipment is both necessary and expensive, and this grant program is a good example of a federal-local partnership established to help better protect our firefighters and the community they serve,” Smith said.
