The Middletown Fire Department will make needed upgrades in their arsenal of firefighting equipment, thanks to another federal grant received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, announced Middletown Fire Chief Vincent Falci.

Through the $142,900 matching grant, the department will purchase four thermal imaging cameras which are used to find victims, lost firefighters and hidden fires. Lengths of 5-inch water supply hose will replace aging lines that are more than 20 years old in some cases. The supply hose will benefit Middletown and surrounding communities. The Middletown Fire Department is part of the Monmouth County Pipeline Team, which works to supply water during large scale incidents such as the recent Thompson Park and Sea Bright fires. The all-volunteer department will also be able to purchase 60 pairs of boots to outfit firefighters.

This is the third grant the department has received through the program. Previously, a $147,360 matching grant in FY 2006 and a $336,889 matching grant in FY2004 was received to replace obsolete equipment and outfit new recruits. Under the terms of the grant, the federal government covers 80 percent of the total costs, with the township covering the remainder. All three grants were written by two volunteer firefighters Vernon Peterson, of Middletown Village Fire Company and former Fire Chief Peter Lucyk of River Plaza Hose Co. No. 1.