Congressman Smith in October visited the all-volunteer Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company in Manchester Township, which in 2015 was awarded a $210,000 AFG grant, and in 2016 was awarded a $455,000 AFG grant.

In late August Ridgeway was been awarded a Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) award for $455,910 to purchase a replacement pumper.

"This federal grant will help improve fire protection in Manchester Township for many years,” said Smith, a long-time member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, who wrote to FEMA to support the grant. “Ridgeway members have been getting by on a three-decade old truck—which they bought used and have certainly gotten a lot of use from. Unfortunately, it costs thousands of dollars to maintain every year. A new pumper will serve the residents of Manchester for years to come. Ridgeway is an-all volunteer firehouse on a limited budget and purchasing a major apparatus is difficult if not impossible without some federal assistance.”

According to Chief Michael Trimarchi, the company’s existing 1987 pumper costs as much as $20,000 to maintain every year.

In 2014, Ridgeway, with Smith’s support, was awarded a $210,455 grant to replace low-pressure SCBA gear with new face pieces and high-pressure bottles. The new equipment replaced older sets that were out of compliance and unreliable. The turn-out gear, comprised of the fire suits, boots and helmets, was over 20 years old when it was replaced.

“I would like to take this time to thank Chris Smith for all of his support, as well as Mayor Ken Palmer, the township and FEMA,” said Chief Trimarchi, of Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company . “These funds that were awarded to purchase a new fire truck are going to be a great help. This truck will be replacing an old 1987 pumper. As our town grows, now I will feel comfortable putting my firemen’s lives on the line knowing we will have the best equipment available.”

The award comes through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants Operations and Safety Grant Program. It is administered by 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 2015 AFG Program visit http://www.fema.gov/assistance-firefighters-

“I was pleased to work with Chief Trimarchi and reach out to FEMA to support both grant applications and help bring updated equipment to Ridgeway volunteer firefighters,” Smith said.

This is round 12—expected to be among the last rounds to be awarded this year—of the competitive FY 2015 fire grant announcements. Smith 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,” Smith said.

Congressman Smith, who represents New Jersey’s Fourth Congressional District in the House of Representatives, has offices in Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean Counties. The Ocean County office is located at 405 Route 539, Plumsted, 08514. The phone number is (609) 286-2571.

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