Congressman Gary Palmer announced July 10 that the Cedar Grove Fire Department received an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for $91,429 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The Cedar Grove Fire Department will use the grant to purchase a new inventory of Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses.

“The new SCBAs will replace existing SCBAs that are becoming outdated,” a representative from the Cedar Grove Fire Department said in a release. “The new SCBAs will be 100-percent compliant to the new National Fire Protection Standards and will make it easier and safer to complete our firefighting task. We are fortunate to have received this grant to help better serve our community. Thank you to all that made this possible.”

Palmer said he appreciated the men and women at the Cedar Grove Fire Department, who serve their community and sometimes risk their own safety to ensure the safety of those in the community.

“I am glad to help their good work,” Palmer said in a release.

Funds awarded under the Assistance for Firefighters Grant (AFG) program are used to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical services organizations. Only the applications most closely conforming to program priorities are considered and scored by peer review panels.

The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.