FEMA Grant Awarded For New Equipment

ORADELL, NJ – Friday, July 31, 2015 – The Oradell Fire Department announced today that they will receive a 2014 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in the amount of $160,000. The grant will help fund new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), replacing current units that are 20 years old.

A 100% volunteer department, the Oradell Fire Department is comprised of nearly 60 men and woman serving the suburban New Jersey town, which is home to more than 8,000 residents. As the department relies on both internal and external funding such as donations and grants to maintain the safety of themselves and others, the contribution of new SCBAs is an important resource that will positively impact the department and the lives they protect.

SCBAs provide air to firefighters in all situations such as structure fires and hazardous situations. This apparatus will also provide protection from other respiratory exposures linked to cancer and other diseases. The previously used equipment lacked many of the newer safety and protection features that the new equipment will possess.

“We are truly honored and especially grateful to receive this grant from FEMA. It was a long time in the making,” said Joe Gothelf, Lieutenant, Oradell Fire Department, who along with Lieutenant Jeff Kaplan helped secure this award. “The new equipment will be critical to better serving our community and ensuring the safety of our members and for that, we are thankful to our federal government representatives and the Department of Homeland Security for granting us this award.”

The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

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