The Middlebush Volunteer Fire Department is one of four in the township that will benefit from a $450,000 Department of Homeland Security grant awarded to Fire District 1.

The federal Department of Homeland Security has awarded township Fire District No. 1 a $450,242 grant to replace members’ noncompliant breathing apparatus, according to a press release from U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-12).

Fire District 1 includes Elizabeth Avenue, Millstone Valley, Somerset and Middlebush volunteer fire companies.

The funding will provide for the replacement of the departments’ self-contained breathing apparatus, which are nmore than 20 years old and are not compliant with current Occupational Health and Safety regulations, according to the release.

The departments will be able to buy 86 new SCBA units and 54 face masks, according to the release.

“The Assistance to Firefighters Grants program provides direct support to fire departments seeking to improve their first responders’ preparedness and ability to protect the health and safety of the public,” Holt said in the release. “I am always pleased to see local first responders obtain the funding they need to serve our communities, and am glad to see Fire District No. 1 in Franklin Township receive this funding.”

Holt wrote a letter to the DHS in May supporting the grant application.

Applications for the grant program were evaluated by experts in fire service, according to the release.