State Grant Funds Updated Equipment For Chester Fire Department

CHESTER, NJ — The Chester Volunteer Fire Company was one of the recent recipients of a state grant totaling $10 million, which was distributed to 293 fire departments across the state.

As part of the American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grant program, the Chester Volunteer Fire Company will receive a $23,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

The program was created to ensure that firefighters have adequate protective, cleaning and sanitization equipment during this time of increased community need.

“Equipping our firefighters with the proper gear is crucial to allowing them to safely and successfully do their jobs,” Governor Murphy said. “The health and safety of our essential workers is of the utmost importance to this Administration. I am grateful to DCA for recognizing these departments’ needs and awarding funding to provide this equipment.”

The Chester Township Council will be introducing an ordinance at Tuesday night's council meeting accepting the grant, according to the meeting agenda.

Given the current strain on communities dealing with pandemic recovery, it is critical to ensure that firefighters are adequately protected against the combined threats of the COVID-19 virus and the strain of emergency fire requests.

“The heightened anxiety felt by first responders like firefighters during the pandemic is well documented,” said State Fire Marshal and Division of Fire Safety Director Richard Mikutsky. “Being outfitted with safe gear and clothing helps lessen this stress so that firefighters can better concentrate on the tasks at hand when responding to an emergency call.”

To be eligible for the grant funding, each applicant had to describe the intended use of the funding and name the key personnel and/or outside consultant who will be managing the grant funds and purchasing equipment.

Applicants also had to submit a governing body resolution acknowledging and approving any grant application and the proposed plan to use funds for the purchase of approved items.

All awarded fire departments will use the grants for:

• Protective clothing (turnout clothing ensembles, pants, garments, helmets, hoods, gloves,
• footwear, etc.)
• Cleaning and advanced cleaning equipment
• Oxygen equipment
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Other fire/virus protection equipment as determined to be appropriate by DCA’s Division of Local Government Services.

The Chester Volunteer Fire Company has been an all-volunteer, non-profit organization since 1921. They currently have more than 50 active members who contribute more than 6,700 man hours annually.

The volunteer fire company recently celebrated its 100th year of serving the Chester community in 2021.