HUNTERDON COUNTY, N.J. — Hunterdon County commissioners have awarded $500,000 in grants to local fire and emergency medical services organizations to help cover the costs of equipment, safety gear and other operational needs.
The Hunterdon County Board of County Commissioners approved the grants at its Tuesday, Sept. 1, meeting. Funding for the Fire and EMS Grant Program was included in the county’s 2026 budget.
County officials said the program is intended to help local emergency service organizations address rising costs while strengthening their ability to respond to emergencies throughout Hunterdon County.
“When I served as Commissioner Director a few years ago, I was proud to help launch our ‘New Era of Partnership’ with Hunterdon County’s municipalities,” Kuhl said. “The goal was to find meaningful ways for County government to work alongside our local communities and help them address the challenges they face. These grants are another example of that partnership in action.”
Through the county’s “New Era of Partnership” initiative, Hunterdon County has worked with municipalities on infrastructure and park improvements, local law enforcement and other public safety initiatives. The new grant program expands that effort to fire and EMS organizations.
“Our fire and EMS organizations are essential partners in keeping Hunterdon County safe,” Kuhl said. “We know they are facing rising costs for equipment, protective gear, training, vehicles and other operational needs, and this funding is one way the County can help ease some of those financial pressures.”
Fire and EMS organizations across the county rely heavily on volunteers and emergency personnel who respond to fires, medical emergencies, motor vehicle crashes and other calls at all hours. County officials said maintaining the equipment, training and resources needed to provide those services represents a significant and growing expense.
“I am pleased that we were able to secure this $500,000 in the FY26 County budget to help our departments acquire needed equipment and safety gear while strengthening their ability to respond when our residents need them most,” Kuhl said.
Kuhl also thanked first responders who attended the Sept. 1 commissioners meeting and those serving throughout the county.
The grants were awarded to the following fire and EMS organizations:
- Amwell Valley Fire Company: $11,000 for a turnout gear cleaning system.
- Bloomsbury Hose Company No. 1: $11,750 for mobile data terminals.
- Califon Fire Company: $15,000 for extrication tools.
- Califon First Aid Squad Inc.: $12,000 for radio upgrades in the ambulance and portable radios.
- Clinton Fire Department: $12,500 for a UTV equipped with a water tank, pump and booster line for fire suppression.
- Delaware Township Fire Company: $14,500 for a FAST board, Rapid Intervention Team pack, firefighter personal bailout systems, rescue harnesses and training.
- Fairmount Fire Company No. 1: $7,500 for extrication tools.
- Flemington Fire Department: $16,000 for turnout gear.
- Flemington-Raritan First Aid and Rescue Squad: $30,000 for a stretcher and load system, LUCAS CPR device and AED.
- Franklin Township Fire District: $9,500 for a snow plow for a utility vehicle.
- Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department I: $5,000 to replace SCBA bottles.
- Frenchtown Union Fire Co. 1: $12,000 for portable radios.
- Glen Gardner Fire Company: $16,000 for turnout gear.
- Hampton Fire Company: $10,000 for water supply equipment used during tanker task force operations.
- High Bridge Fire Department: $11,000 to replace fire hose, high-rise hose kits, hose appliances and a battery-powered PPV fan.
- Holland Township Volunteer Fire Company: $16,000 for turnout gear.
- Kingwood Rescue Squad: $12,000 for portable radios.
- Kingwood Township Vol. Fire Company No. 1: $12,000 for portable radios.
- Lambertville City Fire District: $16,000 for turnout gear.
- Lambertville-New Hope Rescue Squad: $12,000 for portable radios.
- Lebanon Fire Company: $14,500 to replace SCBAs.
- Milford Fire Company: $12,500 for a UTV with a fire/rescue skid unit.
- Milford-Holland Rescue Squad Inc.: $15,000 for a vehicle to be used as a mobile command and medical support unit.
- Oldwick Fire Company: $11,000 for a turnout gear cleaning system.
- Pattenburg Rescue Squad: $15,000 to remount an old ambulance onto a new chassis.
- Pattenburg Volunteer Fire Co.: $16,000 for turnout gear and radios.
- Quakertown Fire Company: $12,500 for a UTV equipped with a water tank, pump and booster line for fire suppression.
- Raritan Township Fire Company: $12,000 for portable radios.
- Readington Volunteer Fire Company: $15,000 to replace a rope rescue and rescue strut stabilization system.
- South Branch Emergency Services: $34,750 for emergency rehab tents and a vehicle stabilization kit and strut.
- Tewksbury First Aid & Rescue Squad: $15,000 for a special service vehicle for firefighter rehabilitation.
- Three Bridges Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 Inc.: $12,000 for portable radios and mobile data terminals.
- Township of Clinton Division of Fire & Annandale Hose Company No. 1: $15,000 to replace or upgrade extrication tools.
- West Amwell Fire Company: $12,000 for portable radios.
- Whitehouse Fire Company No. 1 Inc.: $10,000 for Scott Pak Tracker handheld receivers.
- Whitehouse First Aid and Rescue Squad: $16,000 for turnout gear.
“Your hard work, dedication and willingness to answer the call at all hours do not go unnoticed,” Kuhl said. “Hunterdon County is fortunate to have such dedicated men and women serving on the front lines, and we are proud to support you.”
