Region’s fire, EMS, get $740K in grants
Forty-seven local volunteer fire and emergency service organizations have received nearly $740,000 in state grants to help support their efforts.
The grants are made available, evaluated and awarded by the Pennsylvania State Office of the Fire Commissioner.
“Our first responders are there to support our residents when tragedy strikes our community,” state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-146th Dist. said in announcing the grants.
“The men and women in these volunteer organizations serve our community and make certain our needs our met on our darkest days, so it’s rewarding to see the state offering muchneeded financial support to these local organizations.”
The local organization recipients in 2019-20 include:
• Empire Hook & Ladder Co. 1, Pottstown, fire, $12,878.74.
• Friendship HLH&A Inc., Royersford, EMS, $9,192.44.
• Goodwill Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 1, Pottstown, fire, $12,878.74.
• Goodwill Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 1, Pottstown, EMS, $9,192.44.
• Limerick Fire Department, Limerick, fire, $25,748.03.
• North End Fire Co., Pottstown, fire, $14,248.03.
• Perkiomen Township Fire Co., Perkiomen, fire, $14,248.03.
• Philadelphia Steam Fire Engine Co. 1, Pottstown, fire, $13,974.17.
• Ringing Hill Fire Co., Lower Pottsgrove, fire, $14,248.03.
• Royersford Fire Department, Royersford, fire, $25,748.03.
• Trappe Fire Co. No. 1, Trappe, fire, $14,248.03.
• Trappe Fire Co. No. 1, Trappe, EMS, $8,921.33.
• Bally Community Ambulance Assoc., EMS, $9,192.44
• Birdsboro-Union Fire Department, fire, $24,515.67
• Boyertown Area Fire & Rescue Inc., fire, $37,248.03
• Earl Township Volunteer Fire Co 1, fire, $12,194.10
• Eastern Berks Fire Department, Barto, fire $37,248.03
• Gibraltar Fire Co, fire, $12,741.81
• Monarch Fire Co No 1, Douglassville, fire, $14,111.10
• Twin Valley Fire Department, fire, $13,563.39
• Elverson Honey Brook Area EMS, $18,382.44
• Friendship Diving Rescue Unit, Phoenixville, fire, $12,467.96
• Phoenix Hose Hook & Ladder Co No 1, Phoenixville, fire, $14,248.03
• Glen Moore Fire Company Number 1, Glenmoore, fire $14,248.03
• Honey Brook Fire Company No 1, fire, $14,248.03
• Liberty Steam Fire Engine Company Number 1 of Spring City, fire, $13,700.31
• Ridge Fire Company, East Coventry, fire, $14,248.03
• Black Rock Volunteer Fire Company, Mont Clare, $24,378.74
• Collegeville Fire Company No 1, fire, $14,248.03
• East Greenville Fire Co No. 1, fire, $13,015.67
• Gilbertsville Area Community Ambulance Service, EMS, $7,341.57
• Gilbertsville Fire and Rescue Co. fire , $14,111.10
• Green Lane Fire Company, fire, $12,194.10
• Lower Frederick Fire Company, fire, $14,248.03
• Lower Providence Community Center, EMS, $9,192.44
• Lower Providence Township Volunteer Fire Company, fire, $14,248.03
• New Hanover Volunteer Fire & Rescue Services,fire, $25,474.17
• Pennsburg Fire Co No. 1, fire, $13,837.24
• Red Hill Fire Company, fire, $13,700.31
• Skippack Emergency Medical Services, EMS, $9,192.44
• Skippack Fire Co, fire, $14,248.03
• Township of Upper Providence Dept of Fire & Emergency Services, fire, $13,700.31
• Upper Frederick Fire Co, fire, $12,952
• Upper Perkiomen Valley Ambulance Association, Pennsburg, EMS $9,192.44
• Upper Pottsgrove Township Fire Company No. 1, fire, $14,248.03
• West End Fire Company Number One, Stowe, fire, $14,248.03
• Worcester Volunteer Fire Department, fire, $14,248.03
Ciresi noted recipients still need to complete and return original signed copies of their grant agreements by May 31 in order to receive their money.
According to the OFSC website, “Pennsylvania is the birthplace of the volunteer fire service in North America.”
At 2,400, the commonwealth has the largest number of fire departments in the nation, and is a national leader in the number of career and paid personnel providing emergency services, according to the site.
Under the Fire Commissioner Act of 1995, the Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner is the official charged with meeting the diverse training, operational, and informational needs of the commonwealth’s fire and emergency service community.
The commissioner, who is appointed by the governor, oversees the development and operation of Pennsylvania’s emergency service training program, the Volunteer Loan Assistance Program (VLAP) that provides low-interest loans to volunteer fire and emergency services organizations, and the state’s fire safety education program.
The commissioner and his staff function as support and resource personnel for these agencies in dealing with issues such as:
• Volunteer recruitment and retention
• Firefighter safety
• Intervention programs dealing with juvenile firesetters
• Community safety education
Bruce Trego is Pennsylvania’s fire commissioner.