MOUNT OLIVE (11/29/06) – The Budd Lake Fire Department has received a $10,970 "Assistance to Firefighters" grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Fire Chief Ken Nelson explained that the Budd Lake Fire Department is one of only 45 departments in the state to receive a grant from a $485 million program that will be divided among 4,500 fire related organizations nationally. He said the grant money will be used to purchase protective equipment.

The Federal grant program provides funding to firefighters, emergency response and first response organizations to improve their response capabilities. More than 18,000 applications totaling about $2.5 billion was received this year.

Other New Jersey organizations receiving funding were the Hopatcong Ambulance Squad, $44,397 and the Lincoln Park First Aid Squad, $28,591.