Federal grant, Township & Borough support, and community fundraising help provide new emergency vehicle to serve Chester residents
August 25, 2026 Chester, N.J. — Chester First Aid Squad (CFAS) is pleased to announce the arrival of a new ambulance that will help ensure the Squad is equipped to respond to the emergency medical needs of the Chester community for years to come.
The new ambulance was made possible through a 2023 US Department of Homeland Security grant as part of the ‘Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program’ administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The total funding for the new ambulance included the $244,761.90 FEMA award, an additional $12,238.10 from Chester Township and Chester Borough (split 82%/18% respectively), and $73,704.00 contributed by CFAS.
Preparing the grant application required extensive research and documentation by the CFAS Grant Committee. Members spent countless hours compiling information on call volume, vehicle repair costs, budget and financial information, the age and condition of the existing fleet, community topography and demographics, infrastructure, seasonal impacts and hazardous roadways within the response area.
The new 2025 Horton 603 ambulance, built on a Ford F-550 chassis, was purchased from VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists in Plainfield, New Jersey, and has now arrived in Chester, where it is being prepared to enter service. It replaces an aging 17-year-old 2009 Ford E-series rig which has been taken out of service.
Donations to CFAS helped complete the purchase and covered additional costs associated with transferring equipment from the retiring ambulance and outfitting the new vehicle for service. Improvements include grab rails, patient compartment airbags, four-point harness restraints for responders, CoolTech climate system, 360-degree cameras, and Apple CarPlay GPS navigation system.
CFAS drivers undergo extensive training in safe vehicle operation. In preparation for the new rig, all drivers updated their Emergency Vehicle Operator Certification to CEVO 5 and completed behind-the-wheel competency testing based on NFPA 1002 Standards.
“CFAS is as strong as ever, and we continue to attract members who wish to be a part of our dedicated team,” said CFAS Chief Ginny Bordonaro. “This new rig pairs our highly trained, professional staff with the newest technology and most state-of-the-art safety features available for emergency vehicles.”
“We are delighted to finally have our new ambulance here in Chester,” said CFAS President Deb Johnston. “This vehicle represents an important investment in our ability to serve the community. It will help keep our volunteers rolling for years to come and ensure that when our neighbors need us, we are ready to respond with safe, reliable and up-to-date equipment.”
At its August meeting, the Chester Township Council approved an arrangement under which the Township will lease the ambulance to CFAS for $1 per year. CFAS will be responsible for the vehicle’s insurance and ongoing operating expenses.
CFAS expressed its appreciation to past and current Chester Township mayors and Township Council members, as well as the Township Administrator, CFOs and other professional staff for their administrative help in submitting the grant and for navigating the vendor selection process.
The Squad also thanked the members of its Grant Committee and Ambulance Committee for the considerable work involved in bringing the project to fruition. CFAS Treasurer Mary Robinson played a particularly important role in completing the FEMA grant paperwork and working with Chester Township throughout the grant submission and ambulance purchasing process.
The arrival of the ambulance also underscores the importance of the community’s continued support of CFAS. The Squad has stepped up its fundraising efforts this year to help meet its financial obligations as Township funding has significantly declined. Donations from residents and other supporters helped CFAS fund a significant portion of the ambulance and related costs not covered by FEMA and the Township.
“We are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported CFAS through our fundraising efforts,” added Johnston. “Those contributions have a direct impact on our ability to purchase and maintain the equipment we need to serve Chester. This new ambulance is a wonderful example of what can be accomplished when our volunteers, local government and community work together.”
About Chester First Aid Squad
Chester First Aid Squad is a volunteer emergency medical services organization serving the Chester, NJ community. For more than 80 years, generations of CFAS volunteers have responded to calls for help from their neighbors and worked to provide dependable emergency medical services to the community.