South Orange Awarded $665k to Purchase New Fire Truck

Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ) announced that the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded a new federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to the South Orange Fire Department (SOFD) in the amount of $665,000.  The grant will be used towards the village’s upcoming fire truck purchase.  This is the fourth Firefighter Investment Response Enhancement (F.I.R.E.) Act AFG grant to be awarded to the South Orange Fire Department, making a total of $887,735 awarded to the department since 2001.

Pascrell, who serves New Jersey’s eighth congressional district, which South Orange falls into, introduced the F.I.R.E. Act in March 1999.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers the F.I.R.E. Act AFG grants directly to fire departments.  Since 2001, the AFG has provided approximately $4 billion in grants to first-responder organizations to obtain much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles, and training.

For South Orange, this grant comes at a time where it was looking at an almost $1 million purchase of a ladder truck.  , the South Orange Board of Trustees authorized the purchase of a new truck.  The current truck has been in use for 24 years and has been plagued by problems lately.  In a release put out by Pascrell’s office, SOFD Chief Jeff Markey noted that “the truck was fraught with metal fatigue and electrical problems.”

"Sometimes we would get in the truck and it wouldn't start. Other times, we would be responding to a call and the power would go out," said Markey. "Obtaining a new vehicle absolutely increases the safety of the public. Without the likes of Bill Pascrell, this would not be happening."

Pascrell, who counted on Markey as one of the congressman’s advisors in drafting the F.I.R.E. Act, felt that South Orange needed this grant money more than most at this time.

"Chief Markey leads a dedicated team of firefighters who are ready at a moment's notice to protect the South Orange community.  They deserve nothing less than the best equipment possible to help them in their call to duty," Pascrell said in a press release announcing the grant.  "As a former mayor, I know that Village President Torpey holds the safety of South Orange residents in the highest priority.  I'm glad that the federal government is providing the resources to help the South Orange Fire Department better protect the community it serves."

United States Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) helped secure the grant from the senatorial side.

“Firefighters put their lives on the line every day and we must ensure they have the resources and training to do their job,” said Lautenberg, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which funds the AFG program.  “With so many municipalities facing tough budget decisions, this direct federal investment in our local firefighters is especially important to the safety of our communities.  We will continue working to make sure our first responders are well prepared to keep families in New Jersey and across the country safe.”

South Orange Village President Alex Torpey applauded the New Jersey Congressional delegation for their success for getting this grant for South Orange.

"We are really appreciative of our partners at the federal level assisting us with this significantly expensive and important purchase," Torpey told Patch.  "This new ladder truck will ensure our fire department has the most reliable and up to date equipment possible to keep South Orange residents safe."