New Jersey American Water recently announced that 21 volunteer fire and EMS departments across its service areas will receive approximately $50,000 in combined grant funding. The annual awards aim to boost firefighter safety, enhance emergency response capabilities, and assist local departments with the purchase of essential, lifesaving equipment.
The grant program allows individual departments to tailor funding to their specific local needs. This year, the recipients will utilize the grants to purchase a wide variety of equipment, including gas leak detectors, gas meters, automated external defibrillators (AEDs), thermal imaging cameras, and other critical resources.
“Every department knows its own needs best, and this program is designed to help local responders invest in the tools that will make the biggest difference in their communities,” Kim Schalek Downes, vice president of Business Development, Government and External Affairs at New Jersey American Water said. “We’re proud to support that work year after year.”
The impact of the funding was echoed by past recipients, including Andrew Welsh, chief of the Bay Head Fire Department, which received a grant in 2025. “It helped us purchase two thermal imaging cameras, which allow for faster, more informed command decisions and strengthen overall firefighter safety, operational readiness, and emergency response capabilities,” Welsh said.
Since its inception in 2011, the Volunteer Fire and EMS Grant Program has provided substantial support to first responders. To date, New Jersey American Water has awarded 353 grants totaling more than $587,500 to 176 local volunteer departments and emergency response units throughout the state.
The 2026 grant recipients span 12 counties and include the following departments:
- Atlantic County: Cardiff Volunteer Fire Company, South Egg Harbor Volunteer Fire Company No. 5 of Galloway Township
- Burlington County: Riverside Fire Company No. 1, Vincent Fire Co. 1
- Camden County: Magnolia Ambulance Corps, Inc., Oaklyn Fire Department
- Cape May County: Upper Township
- Essex County: South Orange Fire Department
- Hunterdon County: Three Bridges Volunteer Fire Company
- Middlesex County: Jamesburg Fire Department
- Monmouth County: Community Fire Company of Leonardo, River Plaza Hose Company #1, Township of Middletown EMS Department
- Morris County: Budd Lake Fire Department
- Salem County: Quinton Fire Company, Salem Fire Department
- Somerset County: Bound Brook Fire Department, Raritan Borough
- Union County: Garwood Fire Department
- Warren County: Good Will Fire Co. 1, Washington Borough Fire Department
