PALLONE ANNOUNCES LONG BRANCH FIRE DEPT. TO RECEIVE CRITICAL EQUIPMENT GRANT
December 15, 2010
“Better equipment means the Long Branch Fire Department is better prepared and able to serve the community when it’s called on,” said Pallone. “This grant will allow the fire department to spend money they would have spent on this critical equipment elsewhere. Everyday we ask a lot our fire fighters and first responders and they deserve the best equipment we can provide as they risk their lives to protect us.”
The AFG program is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security and is part of a coordinated effort to improve the nation’s ability to respond to emergency situations.
"The Assistance to Firefighters Grant will allow the LBFD to continue to provide the life-giving compressed air required to allow firefighters to work in dangerous environments such as fires and hazardous materials incidents,” said Sebastian M. Tomaine, Chief of the Long Branch Volunteer Fire Department. "Without the critical financial support provided by this outstanding program, the City of Long Branch would have been forced to consider funding this project at the expense of other projects or, worse yet, by taking it from the already small operating budget.”
In Fiscal Year 2009, DHS Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program awarded approximately $565 million directly to fire departments and EMS organizations to enhance their response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel with respect to fire and all other hazards.