West Essex 1st Aid Squad Lands Big FEMA Grants

CALDWELLS, NJ — More equipment, more vehicles. That’s what the West Essex First Aid Squad (WEFAS) will receive when it reaps the benefits of two grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) program.

On Monday, U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen announced that there will be “significant new funding for New Jersey first responders” via the AFG program. The FEMA funds will manifest in two grants to the West Essex First Aid Squad, he said.

• $135,282 will support the procurement of EMS equipment
• $181,819 is designated for vehicle acquisition

"Each day, New Jersey first responders, most of whom are volunteers, put their lives on the line to react to a range of emergencies and man-made and natural disasters,” Frelinghuysen said. “These critical funds will provide much needed resources to the West Essex First Aid Squad to ensure that their members can continue their critical mission of providing lifesaving aid to the residents of Caldwell, Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and West Caldwell.”

According to its website, the WEFAS provides 24-hour emergency medical services and rescue (Jaws of Life) to the West Essex area, all at no cost to the patient. In 2017, the squad answered 2,730 emergency and stand-by calls. Its volunteer members donated 8,245 work hours of their time answering those calls.

• See related article: West Essex 1st Aid Squad Releases Year-End Call Stats
• See related article: Off-Duty West Essex First Aid Squad Members Revive Collapsed Man
• See related article: West Essex First Aid Squad Honored For Volunteer Service

The WEFAS stated that the grants will pay 90% of the costs of a new ambulance to replace an outdated 2003 Ford F450 ambulance - which has reached the end of its useful life - and of a base station and mobile and portable radios for the NJ State Police P25 digital trunked communication network.

“WEFAS never charges for its services and is dependent upon voluntary contributions from the residents, businesses, and municipal governments in our area,” Captain David Black said.

“These grants will make these essential upgrades possible,” Black added. “During the recession we have had to use capital reserves to meet operating expenses. As a result, we would not be able to manage critical expenditures such as these. Our need for public support of our fundraising efforts to meet operating costs will continue.”

According to Black, the upgrades will serve the squad in several ways:

• “The ambulance to be replaced has reached the point where its maintenance and operating costs have become excessive. The new ambulance will have an immediate and positive impact by reducing costs and ambulance downtime for repairs.”
• “The upgrade to our radio system also fills a critical need. Our local police departments are moving to the State Police system and these new radios will allow WEFAS to maintain critical direct communications with police and fire departments in the five towns of our primary service area.”

AFG funding is provided by the U.S. House Appropriations Committee through the annual Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill. On July 25, the Committee debated and approved the FY 2019 DHS bill, which included $350 million in funding for the AFG program.

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Photo: West Caldwell Township