$50K State Grant Distributed To Morristown Fire Department

MORRISTOWN, NJ — The Morristown Fire Department 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 Morristown Fire Bureau will receive a $50,000 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.”

All eligible 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.

“Firefighters' constant exposure to deadly toxins and carcinogens has made cancer a leading cause of firefighter fatalities,” said Eddie Donnelly, president of the New Jersey State Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association. “The NJ FMBA applauds the Murphy/Oliver Administration for working with us to provide funding for important gear replacement and cleaning initiatives.”

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

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.

The Morristown Fire Bureau is currently considered a "combination fire department," with approximately 33 Career Division firefighters, including officers and marshals, and 20 active Volunteer Division firefighters, including officers.

“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.”