Area fire/ambulance companies receive $327,234 in state grants

Rep. Joseph A. Petrarca April 20, 2016 | 8:40 AM

HARRISBURG, April 20 -- State Rep. Joseph Petrarca, D-Westmoreland/Armstrong/Indiana, said 25 fire and ambulance companies in the 55th Legislative District are sharing $327,234 in state grants.

The grants are from Pennsylvania's Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program and were awarded in February. In all, 2,538 grants were awarded statewide. The grants are funded from gaming revenue and property tax relief funding.

"Our fire departments and emergency service providers often spend countless hours fundraising to ensure their equipment and training are up to date so they can help keep us safe," Petrarca said. "These grants are a vital source of funding, which helps them focus on their service to their communities."

Grant recipients and amounts awarded in the 55th District are as follows:

Armstrong County

• Apollo Volunteer Fire Dept. Hose Co. No. 2 -- $12,195

• Apollo Volunteer Fire Dept. Hose Co. No. 3 -- $11,967

• Leechburg Volunteer Fire Co. -- $11,511

• Lower Kiski Ambulance Service Inc. -- $12,650

• Parks Township Volunteer Fire Dept. -- $11,511

Indiana County

• Saltsburg Volunteer Fire Dept. -- $12,422

Westmoreland County

• Avonmore Volunteer Fire Dept. -- $11,511

• Bell Township Volunteer Fire Dept. -- $12,195

• Derry Volunteer Fire Dept. -- $11,739

• Derry Township Volunteer Fire Dept. No. 1 of Bradenville -- $12,195

• Freewill Volunteer Hose Co. No. 3 and 4, Latrobe -- $11,511

• George G. McMurtry Fire Dept. Vandergrift No. 1 -- $13,789

• Good Friends Hose Co. No. 5, Latrobe -- $11,511

• Goodwill Hose Co. No. 1, Latrobe -- $11,511

• Hook & Ladder Co. 2 Latrobe Volunteer Fire Dept. -- $11,967 for the fire company; $6,949 for EMS

• Hyde Park Volunteer Fire Dept. -- $12,878

• Lloydsville Volunteer Fire Dept. -- $13,789

• New Alexandria Volunteer Fire Dept. -- $11,967

• Oklahoma Volunteer Fire Dept. 1 -- $12,195 for the fire company; $7,201 for EMS

• Rough Terrain Support Unit, Latrobe -- $13,789

• Vandergrift Fire Dept. No. 2 -- $11,391 for the fire company; $7,201 for EMS

• Washington Township Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 of Westmoreland County -- $12,650

• West Leechburg Volunteer Fire Co. -- $11,511

• Whitney Hostetter Volunteer Fire Dept. -- $11,739

• Youngstown Volunteer Fire Dept. and Relief Association -- $13,789

Grants can be used toward repairing, building or renovating facilities. Grant money also can be applied toward the purchase of new equipment, training and certification of staff, or it may go to repay debt related to equipment purchases or facility building and maintenance.

The grant program is due to expire June 30, unless reauthorized by the General Assembly. The House recently approved a bill to extend the program for another four years. Petrarca voted for the bill, which has been sent to the Senate for consideration.