NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded the Asbury Park Fire Department more than $1.2 million in federal funds for the hiring of 12 new firefighters.
           
    “We trust firefighters with our lives and safety, so it is critical we keep giving them the resources they need to protect our communities,” Sen. Lautenberg said.  “These funds will help ensure the Asbury Park Fire Department has the personnel it needs to respond to emergencies.”
          
    “These funds will help support the brave men and women of the Asbury Park Fire Department who selflessly work to keep our families and communities safe each and every day,” Sen. Menendez said.  “Public safety is always a top priority, and they deserve to have the personnel and resources necessary to do the job.”
           
    This funding is part of the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, which was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations to help them increase the number of trained and experienced firefighters available in their communities.  The goal of the SAFER program is to reduce fire departments’ response times to emergencies and to enhance their abilities to comply with staffing and operational standards set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
           
    Sens. Lautenberg and Menendez are two of the strongest proponents in the Senate of allocating homeland security funding based on risk.  Last month, the New Jersey Senators announced more than $1.4 million to improve interoperable emergency communications in the state.

# # #