October 4, 2006                                                                  For Information Contact:
For Immediate Release                                                       Caley Gray (973) 523-5152

PASCRELL FIRE GRANT DELIVERS $208,328 FOR BELLEVILLE FD

BELLEVILLE HAS RECEIVED $286,493 IN FIRE GRANTS SINCE 2002

PATERSON -- U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08), the Ranking Member on the Homeland Security Subcommittee of Emergency Preparedness, Science and Technology today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded the Belleville Fire Department a new federal FIRE grant in the amount of $208,328.  The funding came from the Operations and Firefighter Safety Program, which includes funds for training, equipment, personnel, protective equipment, wellness and fitness, or modifications to fire stations and facilities.  Specifically, this grant will help fund upgrades in personal protection equipment.  

This is the sixth year of existence for the FIRE grant program (aka the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program) and Belleville has received three grants totaling $286,493.  

Fire departments across America have received grants under the program, which was directly created by Pascrell’s Firefighter Investment Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act, which was signed into law by President Clinton in 2000.   With broad bipartisan support, Pascrell’s program has grown from $100 million in fiscal year 2001 to $545 million this year.

“The firefighters in Belleville are well deserving of these federal dollars,” stated Pascrell.  “The department continues to put together outstanding applications and results speak for themselves.  The FIRE Act was written right here in the Eighth District, specifically to help communities such as Belleville support their first responders.  For too long, the federal government turned a deaf ear to the pressing needs of fire departments.  This grant demonstrates that through the FIRE Act, we have changed that shortsighted policy.”

Belleville Mayor Ray Kimble said the following: “Belleville Township is extremely grateful that Congressman Pascrell’s leadership on improving public safety will make a positive impact in our neighborhoods.  The benefits of this grant are twofold, because when federal assistance comes into our township, it relieves local taxes.  This FIRE grant is a win win for the people of Belleville, and the brave firefighters who we rely on to protect us.” 

The FIRE grant program is administered by the Office of Domestic Preparedness which is now under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  Pascrell’s “FIRE Act,” introduced in March of 1999, is the first comprehensive national legislation dedicated to meet the special needs of America’s 32,000 volunteer, paid and part-paid fire departments.

Working with the major fire service organizations, FEMA crafted a program implementation framework that placed eligible grant activities into four program areas.  Fire departments could apply for eligible activities in one of four different programs:

·         Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety Program.  Includes training, wellness and fitness, firefighting equipment, personal protective equipment, and modifications to fire stations and facilities.

·         Fire Prevention Program.  Includes public education and awareness activities, fire codes enforcement activities, fire inspector certifications, purchase and installation of smoke alarms and fire suppression systems, wildland fire mitigation, and arson prevention and detection activities.

·         Emergency Medical Services Program. Includes equipment, training, and wellness and fitness initiatives for fire-based EMS units.

·         Firefighting Vehicles Acquisition Program.  Includes pumpers, brush trucks, tankers, rescue, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units, and fireboats.

Grantees share in the cost of the funded project at a percentage based on the population of their respective jurisdiction.  Grantees that serve jurisdictions of 50,000 or fewer residents are required to provide a non-Federal cost-share of 10 percent, while grantees that serve jurisdictions of more than 50,000 provide a 20 percent cost-share.

The maximum amount an applicant can be awarded is $750,000 during any fiscal year. As part of the application, applicants had to demonstrate financial need and articulate the benefits to be derived from the grant funds.  Funding priorities for each of the activities were established utilizing recommendations from each of the nine major national fire service organizations.

For more current information regarding the FIRE Grant (Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program), visit www.usfa.fema.gov.

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