HARRISBURG, PA — Acting Pennsylvania State fire commissioner Thomas Cook announced on February 3 the approval of grant awards totaling more than $31 million to 2,336 applicants who sought funding for the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program (FCEMSGP).

The Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program (FCEMSGP) is administered by the office of the state fire commissioner (OSFC) and makes an annual grant program available for volunteer and career fire companies, emergency medical services (EMS) and rescue squads. Eligible projects in accordance with the the grant include facility upgrades, equipment, debt reduction, training and certification, education and public outreach, and recruitment and retention efforts. In addition, fire companies were permitted to apply for construction savings accounts for new-facility construction. 

Twenty-two fire and EMS departments in Pike County received a total of $267,056.69 in funding, with awards between $9,177 and $15,000 in value. Twenty departments in Wayne County received a total of $257,323.52 in funding, with awards between $10,000 and $15,000 in value. 

“These grants are well-deserved and will help our brave first responders with their critically important and dangerous jobs,” said Rep. Joe Adams (R-Pike/Wayne). “I congratulate each of them on receiving these funds, as every dollar helps our first responders continue to do the important work of helping all of us in our time of need.”

“Rural areas such as ours are struggling financially when it comes to our fire and EMS companies,” said Rep. Jonathan Fritz (R-Susquehanna/Wayne). “These men and women put their lives on the line for members of our community every single day and I am more than pleased to see them being supported with this necessary funding.”

Those receiving grants include:

Pike County

Blooming Grove Township Volunteer Fire Department No. 1—$11,861.25

Central Volunteer Fire Department—$14,808.81

Dingman Township Volunteer Fire Department (EMS)—$10,000

Dingman Township Volunteer Fire Department (Fire)—$14,563.18

Forest Volunteer Fire Department—$15,000

Greeley Volunteer Fire Department—$12,106.88

Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company (EMS)—$10,000

Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company (Fire)—$12,352.51

Lackawaxen Township Volunteer Ambulance Service (EMS)—$10,000

Lackawaxen Township Volunteer Fire Department (Fire)—$12,106.88

Matamoras Fire Department—$12,352.51

Milford Volunteer Fire Company (Fire)—$14,914

Milford Volunteer Fire Company (EMS)—$9,755

Promised Land Volunteer Fire & Ambulance (EMS)—$8,403

Promised Land Volunteer Fire & Ambulance (Fire)—$12,352.51

Shohola Township Volunteer Fire & Rescue—$12,843.77

Tafton Fire Company—$12,352.51

Westfall Township Volunteer Fire Department (EMS)—$10,000

Westfall Township Volunteer Fire Department (Fire)—$15,000

Wayne County

Gouldsboro Ambulance Squad—$10,000

Gouldsboro Volunteer Fire Company—$15,000

Greene Dreher Volunteer Fire Association—$12,106.88

Hamlin Fire & Rescue Company (EMS)—$10,000

Hamlin Fire & Rescue Company (Fire)—$13,335.03

Lake Ariel Fire Company—$13,826.29

Lakeville Volunteer Fire Company—$13,580.66

Maplewood Fire and Rescue Company—$15,000

In order to receive the funds, all recipients must file grant agreements with the Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC).

FCEMSGP is administered by the OSFC, and makes an annual grant program available for volunteer and career fire companies, emergency medical services and rescue squads. Eligible projects include facility upgrades, equipment, debt reduction, training and certification, education and public outreach, and recruitment and retention efforts.  Additionally, fire companies were permitted to apply for construction savings accounts for new-facility construction.

A complete list of grant awardees, as well as additional program eligibility requirements and important dates and information associated with future FCEMSGP funding rounds, can be found online at www.osfc.pa.gov. 

Residents are encouraged to visit Adams’ website, repjoeadams.com, and Facebook page at Facebook.com/RepJoeAdams. There, information can be found on the latest legislative developments in Harrisburg, state programs and the latest happenings in the 139th District.

The 139th Legislative District is comprised of parts of Pike and Wayne counties, consisting of the townships of Blooming Grove, Dingman, Greene, Lackawaxen, Milford, Palmyra (Pike), Shohola, Westfall, Cherry Ridge, Dreher, Lake, Lehigh, Paupack, Palmyra (Wayne), Salem, South Canaan and Sterling, and the boroughs of Matamoras, Milford and Hawley.