NEW JERSEY— Fire departments across New Jersey, as part of a countrywide initiative, can now apply for federal funding to hire and train professional firefighters or to recruit more volunteer front line firefighters. 

According to a press release issued yesterday by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) will provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations. The $360M competitive grants will be awarded to an estimated 300 fire departments across the nation to implement within the next 48 months.

Departments can use the grants to hire more firefighters, or retain and recruit more volunteer firefighters, to increase their capabilities and responses to fires and other emergencies in their communities.

The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the NFPA (NFPA 1710 and/or NFPA 1720).   The SAFER grant program will provide $360 million Congress allocated in FY2022 in total grants for local fire departments, both volunteer and paid, around the country. The program is run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).   

 “This program offers federal funds to help local men and women who are our first responders–and who are so critical to the protection and safety of our communities—to do their jobs more safely and effectively with the proper amount of personnel,” said Rep. Smith. “I encourage both career and volunteer fire departments to consider applying for the SAFER grant.”

According to FEMA, The SAFER grant application period opened February 13, and ends on Friday, March 17 at 5 p.m. ET.  Interested organizations can find the guidance materials in applying for grants here.  

According to Smith, he has worked with local fire companies across his district which have previously benefited from this SAFER program, including—but not limited to—Toms River Fire District No. 1 which Smith announced last week will receive $508,256, as well as the Trenton Fire Department which was awarded SAFER grants in fiscal years 2010, 2012 and 2014 which helped avoid layoffs for about 60 professional firefighters and the closure of four companies. In September of 2017, Middletown Township Fire Department also received a $136,675 grant through the SAFER program to help with the hiring of additional trained firefighters.

Applicants requiring assistance should visit the FEMA website, and contact the FEMA SAFER Program Help Desk at (866) 274-0960 or firegrants@fema.dhs.gov. The SAFER Program Help Desk is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.