Burns announces more than $340,000 in local fire department, EMS grants

HARRISBURG, Feb. 14 – State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, has announced the award of $341,661 in state grants to 27 fire and ambulance companies in the 72nd Legislative District.

“I’m so pleased to announce the award of these grants,” Burns said. “The funding is critical to enable our region’s firefighters and emergency rescue workers to continue their vital, life-saving work. Our community benefits directly from these resources and the efforts of these brave workers.”

The grant list – by county, department and entity – is as follows:

Ashville Fire Company – Fire Company, $15,000
Cambria Township Volunteer Fire Company – Fire Company, $13,570
Carrolltown Fire Company – Fire Company, $11,911
Community Volunteer Fire Company of Lilly – Fire Company, $13,754
Cresson Area Ambulance Service Inc. – EMS, $7,037
Cresson Volunteer Fire Company – Fire Company, $15,000
Dauntless Fire Company – Fire Company, $15,000
East Taylor Volunteer Fire Company – Fire Company, $13,570
Ebensburg Area Ambulance Association – EMS, $7,037
Gallitzin Fire Company No. 1 – Fire Company, $13,386
Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company – EMS, $7,037
Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company – Fire Company, $15,000
John Carroll Area Ambulance Service – EMS, $7,037
Loretto Fire Company – Fire Company, $12,280
Lower Yoder Volunteer Fire Company – Fire Company, $11,543
Middle Taylor Township Volunteer Fire Company – Fire Company, $15,000
Patton Area Ambulance Association Inc. – EMS, $7,037
Patton Fire Company No. 1 – Fire Company, $15,000
Portage Area Ambulance Association – EMS, $7,037
Portage Volunteer Fire Company – Fire Company, $38,229
Reade Township Volunteer Fire Company – Fire Company, $11,543
Revloc Volunteer Fire Company – Fire Company, $13,017
Summerhill Borough Volunteer Fire Company – Fire Company, $14,123
Summerhill Township Volunteer Fire Company – Fire Company, $13,201
Upper Yoder Volunteer Fire Company – Fire Company, $13,017
Upper Yoder Volunteer Fire Company – EMS, $2,531
Westwood Volunteer Fire Company – Fire Company, $13,754

The grants, made possible by the Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program, can be used for repairing, building or renovating facilities. The funds also can be applied toward the purchase of new equipment or staff training and certification, or they may go to repay debt related to equipment purchases or facility building and maintenance.

Burns noted that recipients still need to complete and return original signed copies of their grant agreements by May 31 in order to receive the funds. He urged any department that needs help with this requirement to contact his nearest district office.