Long Branch, West Long Branch Fire Departments Receive Federal Funding

The Long Branch and West Long Branch fire departments will receive grant money for recruitment and equipment upgrades, respectively.

Earlier this week, U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) announced that Long Branch and West Long Branch were among the nine communities that will be receiving $1.5 million through several grant programs.

The Long Branch Fire Department will receive $129,942 through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program for recruitment. 

"The highly competitive SAFER grant program provides funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations in order to help them increase the number of trained firefighters in their communities," a release from Senators Lautenberg and Menendez states.

The West Long Branch Fire Department will receive $95,000 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to purchase sprinkler equipment.

"The AFG grants are awarded to fire departments and EMS organizations to improve their capacity to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel in fire related emergencies," according to the release.