Burns: Local fire companies receive $296,000 in state grants

Burns urges fire, EMS companies to get agreements in before deadline

EBENSBURG, June 29 – Thanks to legislation that Rep. Frank Burns worked to pass in 2020, local fire and EMS companies are eligible to receive more than $296,000 in state grants.

“With volunteers harder to come by, and donations hard-hit by the pandemic, I know how critical these annual grants are to our local first responders,” Burns said. “When the legislation to re-authorize this program came around last year, I threw my support behind it and helped to get it passed through the House.”

Local companies awarded grants include:

Ashville Fire Co.

Fire Co.

$15,000

Cambria Township Volunteer Fire Co.

Fire Co.

$13,837.45

Carrolltown Fire Co.

Fire Co.

$11,876.73

Community Volunteer Fire Company of Lilly

Fire Co.

$13,659.21

Cresson Area Ambulance Service

EMS

$8,993.20

Cresson Volunteer Fire Co.

Fire Co.

$15,000

Dauntless Fire Co.

Fire Co.

$15,000

East Taylor Volunteer Fire Co.

Fire Co.

$13,124.46

Ebensburg Area Ambulance Association

EMS

$8,993.20

Gallitzin Fire Co. No. 1

Fire Co.

$14,550.44

*Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Co.

Fire Co.

$15,000

Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Co.

EMS

$8,993.20

John Carroll Area Ambulance Service

EMS

$8,993.20

Lower Yoder Volunteer Fire Co.

Fire Co.

$12,946.22

Middle Taylor Township Volunteer Fire Co.

Fire Co.

$13,480.96

Patton Area Ambulance Association

EMS

$8,993.20

Patton Fire Company No. 1

Fire Co.

$15,000

Portage Area Ambulance Association

EMS

$8,993.20

Portage Vol Fire Co. No. 1

Fire Co.

$26,585.19

Reade Township Volunteer Fire Co.

Fire Co.

$12,054.98

Summerhill Township Volunteer Fire Co.

Fire Co.

$13,302.71

Upper Yoder Volunteer Fire Co.

Fire Co.

$12,767.97

Upper Yoder Volunteer Fire Co.

EMS

$8,993.20

Burns, D-Cambria, also worked last year during the COVID-19 crisis to get emergency grants to local fire and EMS companies that were hard-hit by the pandemic.

“As someone who has suited up for a Cambria County Fire School training session, I’ve had a taste of what they go through when they answer the call – and I will continue to fight to make sure they have the equipment and training they need to do so,” Burns said last year when he announced the emergency grants.

Grants awarded through the annual program can be used to fund facility construction or renovation, equipment, training, and recruitment and retention of members, among other things. More information on the program is available here. Fire and EMS companies should have been notified last month if they were recipients of grants. The deadline for returning grant agreements to the state is July 1.

A full list of fire and EMS companies awarded grants this year state-wide is available here.