Lanoka Harbor Lands $80K Grant
Is Second FEMA Grant in 5 years for volunteer fire company
MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. - Congressman Jim Saxton (NJ-3rd) announced today that a federal grant in the amount of $80,723 has been awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to a local fire company in Ocean County.
Lanoka Vol. Fire Co. No. 1 plans to use the funds to purchase 40 sets of turnout gear and a thermal imaging camera, Saxton said. The fire company, located on Route 9 in Lacey Township, plans to share the turnout gear with the township’s other firehouses.
"This may be the last firefighters’ grant I announce, so I want to say that I am pleased and proud to have helped create this grant nearly 10 years ago as a Member of the Congressional Firefighters’ Caucus, and support funding every year since," Saxton said. "I strongly encourage all fire companies to apply for these grants. Congress designed this grant to help small community fire houses."
The Homeland Security Office for Emergency Preparedness and Response awarded grants in the 15th round of the 2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. In 2004, the fire house netted $113,652 for portable radios, a firehouse exhaust system, air tanks, physical exams, and personal safety rope packs for firefighters. Lanoka Harbor Fore Co. is designated as the decontamination center for Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant in case of an emergency.
Saxton helped create the grant program in 2001. Congress enacted the grant program so that FEMA could improve basic fire service delivery across the United States to support fire protection, EMS delivery, vehicle purchase, and prevention programs. Under the terms of the grant the companies must pay for 10 percent of the cost of the projects, with the FEMA grant covering the remainder. To receive a grant, departments must demonstrate financial need and benefits to be derived from the grant. FEMA and the United States Fire Administration (USFA), select fire departments across the country to receive the grants.
Fire departments having questions regarding the 2004 Assistance to Firefighters Grant program can reach the FEMA Grant Program staff at 1-866-274-0960, or via email at usfagrants@fema.gov. For the most current information regarding these grant awards, and any of the many other USFA projects, visit www.usfa.fema.gov.
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