Rural Firefighters to Benefit from Federal Grants Awarded by DCNR

HARRISBURG – More than $669,000 will be awarded to help firefighters in Pennsylvania’s rural communities guard against the threat of fires in forests and other undeveloped areas, announced Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard J. Allan.

“These funds will be distributed to 160 volunteer fire companies in rural areas and communities where forest and brush fires are common,” Allan said. “To understand the importance of readiness, equipment and training, one only has to look back to spring of 2010 when dry, windy conditions spawned smaller fires in every county, along with several larger forest fires.”

Local firefighting forces in rural areas or communities with fewer than 10,000 residents qualify for the aid. Last year, the grant program awarded $666,553 to 172 fire companies statewide.

“The readiness of these volunteers is demonstrated even further every spring and summer when they routinely answer assistance calls coming from other states,” Allan said. “These federal grants allow firefighters from smaller companies to concentrate more on public safety and training while easing their fiscal constraints.”

Grant recipients were named following review of fire company applications meeting a May 2011 deadline. Grants and other assistance are provided through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry, with funding supplied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service through the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978.

The key objective is to better equip and train volunteers to save lives and protect property in unprotected or inadequately protected rural areas. Grant recipients are selected based on vulnerability and adequacy of existing fire protection.

In reviewing applications, the state placed priority on applications seeking funds for projects that included purchasing wildfire-suppression equipment and protective clothing.

Grants were also awarded for mobile or portable radios, dry hydrant installations, wildfire prevention and mitigation, wildfire-fighting training, and to convert and maintain federal excess vehicles used for fire suppression.

Grants for any project during a fiscal year cannot exceed 50 percent of the actual expenditures. The maximum grant awarded was $7,500.

Aid is granted on a cost-share basis, with recipients supplying matching funds. The bureau will begin accepting 2012 applications next spring.

To expedite the application and decision-making processes, the bureau is accepting only online applications. Potential applicants should visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us and click on “Apply for Grants,” then “Online Grant Applications” and “DCNR Volunteer Fire Assistance.”

Grant information can be obtained from the Bureau of Forestry Division of Forest Fire Protection in Harrisburg. Call 717-787-2925 or visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us and click on “State Forests.”

Editor’s Note: The following grants, listed by county, were awarded:

Allegheny: Fawn Township Volunteer Fire Department, No. 1, Tarentum, $7,500; Harrison Hills Fire Co. No. 4, Natrona Heights, $5,000; Ohio Township Volunteer Fire Co. of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, $7,500; Springdale Township Volunteer Fire, Harwick, $7,500; Volunteer Fire Co. of Rural Ridge, Rural Ridge, $7,500; Volunteer Fireman’s Association, McKeesport, $2,868; West Deer Volunteer Fire Co. No. 3, Gibsonia, $2,256;

Armstrong: Ford Cliff Volunteer Fire Co. Inc, Ford Cliff, $1,441; Leechburg Volunteer Fire Co., Leechburg, $7,500;

Beaver: Bridgewater Volunteer Fire, Beaver, $5,100; Economy Volunteer Firemen’s Association, Baden, $4,500; Raccoon Township Volunteer Fire Department, Aliquippa, $5,117;

Bedford: Everett Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 Inc., Everett, $3,100; Saxton Volunteer Fire Co., Saxton, $4,600; Six Mile Run Area Volunteer Fire Co., Six Mile Run, $7,500;

Berks: Berks Emergency Strike Team Inc., Reading, $1,460; Bethel Union Fire Company, Bethel, $2,867;

Blair: Greenwood Volunteer Fire Department, Altoona, $5,000;

Bradford: Athens Township Volunteer Fire Co., $7,500; Wilmot Fire Co. Inc., $7,500;

Cambria: Adams Township Volunteer Fire, Dunlo, $7,500; Community Volunteer Fire Co. of Lilly, Lilly, $1,080; Cresson Volunteer Fire Co., Cresson, $6,895; East Taylor Volunteer Fire, Johnstown, $1,500; Nanty Glo Volunteer Fire Co., No. 1, Nanty Glo, $2,500; Revloc Volunteer Fire Co., Revloc, $754; Spangler Fire Co., Northern Cambria, $6,795; Summerhill Borough Volunteer Fire Co., Summerhill, $4,725; Summerhill Township Volunteer Fire Co., Beaverdale, $1,080; Westwood Volunteer Fire Co., Johnstown, $1,250;

Carbon: Kidder Township Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, White Haven, $5,909;

Centre: Alpha Fire Co., State College, $4,136; Boalsburg Fire Co., Boalsburg, $6,020; Nittany Wildland Firefighters, Bellefonte, $7,484;

Chester: Glen Moore Fire Co. No. 1, Glenmoore, $3,424; Westwood Fire Co., Coatesville, $5,750;

Clarion: Knox Volunteer Fire Co. Inc., Knox, $3,748;

Clearfield: Community Volunteer Fire Department of Mahaffey, $2,595; Glendale Volunteer Fire Department, Coalport, $5,500; Madera Volunteer Fire Co., Madera, $4,773; Winburne Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, Winburne, $2,700;

Clinton: Nittany Valley Volunteer Fire Co. Inc., Lamar, $3,532; Avis Fire Co. No 1, Avis, $2,000; Nippenose Valley Volunteer Fire, Jersey Shore, $3,750;

Columbia: Wilburton Hose Co. No. 1, Wilburton, $7,500;

Crawford: Randolph Volunteer Fire Department, Guys Mills, $3,750; Spartansburg Volunteer Fire Department, Spartansburg, $1,910; Summit Township Volunteer Fire Department Inc., Harmonsburg, $1,750; West Mead Township District 2 Volunteer Fire Co., Meadville, $6,342;

Dauphin: Grantville Volunteer Fire Co., Grantville, $2,100; Londonderry Fire Co. No. 1, Middletown, $2,000; Wiconisco Fire Engine Co. No. 1, Wiconisco, $2,500;

Elk: Elk County Strike Team, Ridgway, $3,500;

Erie: Albion Volunteer Fire Department, Albion, $1,640; Stanford Hose Co., Corry, $659;

Fayette: Brownsville Fire Co. No. 1, Brownsville, $1,849; Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department, Perryopolis, $4,623;

Forest: West Hickory Volunteer Fire Department, West Hickory, $3,946;

Franklin: Marion Volunteer Fire Co., Marion, $7,397;

Huntingdon: Mapleton Fire Department, Mapleton Depot, $2,000; Marklesburg Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, James Creek, $7,500; Mount Union Fire Co. No. 1, Mount Union, $3,885;

Indiana: Cherryhill Township Volunteer Fire Co. Inc, Penn Run, $3,445;

Jefferson: Reynoldsville Volunteer Fire Co., Reynoldsville, $3,107;

Juniata: East Waterford Fire Co., East Waterford, $3,000; Mifflintown Hose Co. No. 1, Mifflintown, $4,505;

Lackawanna: Clarks Summit Fire Co. No. 1 Inc., Clarks Summit, $4,000; Covington Independent Fire Co. Inc., Covington Township, $2,856; Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Co., Jefferson Township, $6,100; Jessup Hose Co. No. 2, Jessup, $4,250;

Lancaster: Bart Township Fire Co., Bart, $2,851; Columbia No. 1 Fire Department, Columbia, $1,050; Intercourse Fire Co., Intercourse, $7,500; Keystone Wildfire Crew Inc., Holtwood, $1,100; Robert Fulton Fire Co., Peach Bottom, $5,000;

Lawrence: District 8 Hot Shots, Volant, $275;

Lebanon: Perseverance Fire Co. of Jonestown, Jonestown, $4,272; Schaefferstown Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, Schaefferstown, $2,950;

Lehigh: Good Will Fire Co. No 1, Trexlertown, $6,729; Macungie Volunteer Fire Department, Macungie, $7,500; Weisenberg Volunteer Fire Department, Kutztown,  $4,144;

Luzerne: Askam Fire Co., Hanover Township, $7,473; Hughestown Hose Co., Hughestown, $5,000; Jenkins Township Fire Department, Jenkins Township, $7,500; Kunkle Fire Co. Inc., Dallas, $7,500; Laflin Volunteer Fire Department, Wilkes-Barre, $7,500; Lake Silkworth Volunteer Fire Department, Hunlock Creek, $7,500; Pioneer Volunteer Fire Department, Pringle, $5,500; Pond Hill/Lily Lake Fire Co., Wapwallopen, $4,000;

Lycoming: Citizens Fire Co. No.  2, South Williamsport, $1,000; Independent Hose Co. No. 1, Jersey Shore, $3,585; Lairdsville Community Volunteer Fire Co., Lairdsville, $4,554; Muncy Township Volunteer Fire, Pennsdale, $7,500; Picture Rocks Volunteer Fire Co., Picture Rocks, $3,898; Woodward Township Volunteer Fire Co., Linden, $1,250;

McKean: Derrick City Volunteer Fire Department, Derrick City, $3,000; Hill Top Volunteer Fire Department, Cyclone, $4,275; Ludlow Volunteer Fire Department, Ludlow, $2,500;

Mercer: Shenango Township Volunteer Fire Department, West Middlesex, $7,500;

Mifflin: Junction Fire Co., Lewistown, $2,250; McVeytown Volunteer Fire Co., McVeytown, $5,565; Mifflin County Forest Fire Fighters, Lewistown, $7,175; Decatur Fire Co. No. 1, Lewistown, $3,000; Milroy Hose Co. No. 1, Milroy, $7,500; Reedsville Volunteer Fire Co., Reedsville, $1,296;

Monroe: Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Co., Reeders, $5,557; Shawnee Fire Co., Shawnee-on-Delaware, $4,100;

Montgomery: Bryn Athyn Fire Co. Inc., Bryn Athyn, $1,460;

Northampton: Bushkill Township Volunteer Fire Co., Nazareth, $7,500; Lehigh Township Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, Cherryville, $7,500; Look Out Fire Co. No. 1, Pen Argyl, $607; Northampton Fire Department, Northampton, $7,500; Southeastern Volunteer Fire Co., Hellertown, $3,383; Washington Township Volunteer Fire Co., Bangor, $2,251;

Northumberland: Forest Hills Fire Co., Coal Township, $7,500; Hickory Corners & Community Fire Co., Dalmatia, $5,060; Lower Augusta Volunteer Fire Department Inc., Sunbury, $3,600; Lower Mahanoy Fire Co., Dalmatia, $5,917; Milton Fire Department Inc., Milton, $3,688; Tuckahoe Volunteer Fire Co., Northumberland, Point Township, $5,000;

Perry: Liverpool Volunteer Fire Co., Liverpool, $7,500; Millerstown Fire Department, Millerstown, $7,500;

Pike: Westfall Township Volunteer Fire Department Inc., Matamoras, $1,258;

Schuylkill: Auburn Fire Co., Auburn, $2,610; Community Fire Co. No. 1, Landingville, $4,500; Donaldson Fire Co. No  1, Donaldson, $775; Friedensburg Fire Co., Friedensburg, $1,522; Good Will Fire Co. No. 4, Pottsville, $780; Goodwill Fire Co. No. 1, Port Carbon, $1,455; Marlin Citizens Hose Co., Marlin, $3,300; Sacramento Community Fire Co., Sacramento, $2,500; Schuylkill Hose Co. No. 2, Schuylkill Haven, $6,490; Summit Station Fire Co. No.1, Summit Station, $4,120; West End Fire & Rescue Co., Mahanoy City, $7,400; William Penn Fire Co. No 1, Shenandoah, $1,750;

Snyder: Rescue Hose Co., Beavertown, $5,000;

Somerset: Boswell Volunteer Fire Department, Boswell, $2,785; New Baltimore & Area Volunteer Fire Department, New Baltimore, $1,725;

Susquehanna: Clifford Township Volunteer Fire Co., Clifford, $980; Thompson Hose Co. Inc., Thompson, $5,000; United Fire Co., Montrose, $1,500;

Tioga: Lawrenceville Fire Department, Lawrenceville, $1,521;

Union: New Berlin Fire Co. No. 1 Inc., New Berlin, $3,750;

Venango: Sandycreek Township Volunteer Fire, Franklin, $3,800;

Warren: Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire, Clarendon, $4,000; Columbus Volunteer Fire Department, Columbus, $7,500; Glade Volunteer Fire Department, Warren, $3,497; Lander Volunteer Fire Department, Russell, $2,750; Sheffield Township Volunteer Fire Department, Sheffield, $1,625;

Washington: Cecil Township Volunteer Fire Co. No. 3 of Milers Run Inc., Cecil, $2,535; North Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Co., Washington, $7,500;

Wayne: Lakeville Volunteer Fire Co., Lakeville, $6,000; Pleasant Mount Emergency Services, Pleasant Mount, $4,000; Waymart Volunteer Fire Co., Waymart, $4,500;

Westmoreland: Collinsburg Volunteer Fire Department, West Newton, $2,950; Hook and Ladder Co. No. 2, Latrobe Volunteer Fire Department, Latrobe, $863; Washington Township Volunteer Fire Co. of Westmoreland County, Apollo, $3,700;

York: Citizens Volunteer Fire Co., Fawn Grove, $1,014; Jefferson Volunteer Fire Co., Codorus, $7,500; and Union Fire & Hose Co. No. 1 of Dover, Dover, $2,950.