PRESS RELEASE
The Shapiro Administration recently awarded $883,143 in grants to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities increase protection from wildfires, while encouraging fire safety across the Commonwealth.
“Ensuring we have well-equipped and highly trained wildfire fighters is key in protecting our forests and wilds from wildfires, whether they are human-caused and naturally occurring,” Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “The best way we can show our gratitude to those who help fight brush and forest fires across the commonwealth is to practice fire safety in all situations, especially in October and November when wildfires are most common in Pennsylvania.”
Both Dunn and State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook thanked volunteer fire companies for their service to communities close to home, as well as those members who often join DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry crews battling wildfires far beyond Pennsylvania’s borders. Several crews have been sent to western states to fight wildfires caused by hot, dry summer conditions, while also responding regularly to local woodland and brush fires. They noted the wildfire grants help enable smaller companies to concentrate more on public safety and training while easing their fiscal constraints.
“Each year, a variety of factors like drying vegetation, fewer natural windbreaks and now, scarce rain, come together to compound fire risks during wildfire season,” Cook said. “It’s easy to forget that the men and women that respond to these incidents are our neighbors, family members, and friends, and largely part of the same volunteer fire service that the commonwealth depends upon every day. Grant programs like these are essential financial pipelines, providing firefighters with the mission-critical training, equipment, and supplies needed to safely and successfully complete their missions.”
Grants are awarded on a cost-share basis. The maximum grant awarded in 2023 is $12,500, and grants awarded cannot exceed 50 percent of the actual expenditures of local, public, and private nonprofit organizations in the agreement. The full list of recipients is here.
AFG grants awarded to volunteer fire departments in Luzerne County (PA)
A total of $1.05 million in federal funds was awarded to 10 regional fire departments, including six in Luzerne County, wnep.com reported.
The $573,079 in AFG grants awarded to Luzerne County include:
- Freeland Fire Department: $215,045 to purchase 24 self-containing breathing apparatus and 14 face pieces.
- Mountain Top Hose Company No. 1: $126,706 to purchase 14 self-containing breathing apparatus and eight face pieces.
- Nanticoke Glen Lyon-Alden Volunteer Hose Company: $121,403 to purchase 14 self-containing breathing apparatus, 26 face pieces, and two rapid intervention team packs with portable air supply systems.
- Pittston Township Volunteer Fire Department: $50,000 to purchase self-containing breathing apparatus air compressor/fill station.
- Plains Township Fire Department: $30,952 to purchase protective personal equipment gear-cleaning equipment.
- Duryea Excelsior Hose Company No. 2: $28,973 to purchase 10 multi-mode compliant portable radios.
