The Robbinsville Township Fire Department was awarded a grant in the amount of $111,585 from the Department of Homeland Security through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, announced Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) today.  

The grant will be used to replace 16 sets of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA’s) needed by firefighters to maintain an adequate air supply when entering dangerous conditions. The department’s existing SCBAs are approaching the end of their serviceable life and had become a maintenance and safety concern.

“The Robbinsville Township Fire Department is extremely thankful to Congressman Chris Smith and his staff for their assistance and support during the application process,” Deputy Chief Daniel Schaffener of Robbinsville Township Fire Department. “Without the direct support of our application and the overall program support of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program by Congressman Smith, our department would be faced with difficult realities regarding the safety of our firefighters and residents. Grant support such as this will enable our firefighters to be outfitted with safe, compliant, safety equipment that will have a direct impact on daily operations. As is Congressman Smith’s support, the benefits of this award for our department and local residents is immeasurable.”

Smith said the need for new equipment was clear and that the application reflects the need.

“Firefighters need certain crucial tools to do their job in a potentially deadly environment, and air tanks and breathing equipment are such tools,” said Smith.  “Deputy Chief Schaffener submitted a convincing application that ultimately will enable members of the fire department to better protect the homes and businesses of the Robbinsville community they serve, and be safer doing it.”

The aim of the AFG grant program is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and EMS organizations across the country. Since 2001, it has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

The grant covers 95 percent of the total cost of the equipment.

The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) 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 2014 AFG Program please visit http://www.fema.gov/assistance-firefighters-grant.

This is round 2 of the competitive FY 2014 fire grant announcements.

Congressman Smith, who represents New Jersey’s Fourth Congressional District in the House of Representatives, has offices in Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean Counties.  The Mercer County office is located at 4573 South Broad Street, Hamilton. The phone number is (609) 585-7878.

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