Hoboken to Receive $1,1M Federal Grant to Hire Firefighters

The Hoboken Fire Department will receive $1,118,600 in federal funding to hire new fire fighters, New Jersey's senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg announced on Wednesday.

The money comes to Hoboken through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program.

Hoboken and West Orange are sharing a $2.8 million grant. The West Orange Fire Department received $1,755,610. 

“Through this federal funding, the fire departments in Hoboken and West Orange will be able to hire more firefighters to help keep their communities safe,” Lautenberg said. Lautenberg is the vice chairman of the senate appropriations subcommittee on homeland security, which funds the SAFER program.

“As state budget cuts are squeezing local municipalities we'll keep working at the federal level to support New Jersey fire departments," Lautenberg said.

“Tough budget times call for tough cuts, but one thing we must fund without question are the local fire departments and emergency first responders that serve our communities and families," said Menendez.