Toms River To Receive $500K Grant For Firefighters

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River officials are set to receive more than $500,000 in federal funds to help its local fire companies recruit volunteers.

Rep. Chris Smith, who represents the Third District in the House of Representatives, announced the grant funding.

Toms River Fire District No. 1 is to receive $508,256 as part of the federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, Smith said. The Fire District oversees six of the township’s nine fire stations.

"The vitality of Toms River’s volunteer fire department depends greatly on retaining its dedicated firefighters who selflessly risk their lives to rescue our neighbors who fall in harm’s way, as well as attracting new volunteers who are ready to courageously respond to the call of service," he said.

"Toms River is grateful to Congressman Smith for working hard to get these much-needed funds to recruit and retain firefighters," Mayor Maurice B. “Mo” Hill Jr. said.

Administered by the Department of Homeland Security, the SAFER grant provides funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, front-line firefighters in their communities.