NORTH WILDWOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT AWARDED $35,500 FROM
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Funds to be used for purchase of escape gear, training
NORTH WILDWOOD, NJ – The North Wildwood Fire Department was recently awarded a grant of $34,486 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the purchase of escape gear and training in its use for firefighters, announced Mayor Patrick Rosenello.
“We are appreciative of FEMA’s award and very pleased that the City’s application was so favorably received,” said Rosenello. “This money will allow us to ensure that our firefighters have the equipment and training they need to keep themselves safe while they work to protect people and property throughout the City.”
The money comes from FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program — an extremely competitive national funding opportunity that provides grants to fire departments for “critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, enhance operations efficiencies, foster interoperability, and support community resilience.”
Each year, the AFG program receives approximately 12,000 applications from across the country and makes awards to only roughly 20%. North Wildwood’s successful application was written by Triad Associates of Vineland, NJ — a community and economic development firm that has secured nearly $1 billion in funding for its clients over the past 40 years.
The grant awarded to North Wildwood Fire Department will be supplemented by a required 5% local match of $1,774.
Under the AFG award, the North Wildwood Fire Department will purchase escape harness systems for all of its firefighters and training in the proper use of those systems. Escape harnesses allow firefighters to be quickly removed from fires to avoid entrapment.
“The North Wildwood Fire Department has long been committed to ensuring the safety of our firefighters and the public we serve,” said Fire Chief Dominick McClain. “This AFG award is a continuation of that commitment.”
