Fire, EMS organizations in Allegheny, Westmoreland counties slated for state grants

More than $850,000 has been slated for 68 local fire and EMS organizations in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, Sen. Jim Brewster announced on Tuesday.

The $858,144 was made available through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner’s Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program, Brewster said. The funds are available to volunteer and paid fire companies, emergency medical services and rescue squads throughout Pennsylvania.

“It is imperative that our fire and EMS services have the resources they need to serve our communities and keep us safe,” Brewster said.

Fire companies in Allegheny County will receive a total of $668,784 and include some in Monroeville, Pitcairn, Plum, Turtle Creek, North Versailles and Braddock, among others.

The complete list of the 52 organizations and the amounts they are set to receive can be found here.

Monroeville fire and EMS organizations are slated to receive the largest portion from the grant program at $63,212.

In Westmoreland County, 16 fire, rescue and first responder organizations will receive a total of $189,360 and include some in New Kensington, Arnold and Lower Burrell, among others. The complete list of the organizations and the amount they are set to receive can be found here.

Nearly half of the funding allocated to Westmoreland County — $80,276 — is slated for New Kensington organizations.

“I will continue to make sure that our fire and EMS services receive the state funding they need to maintain and improve facilities, make sure personnel are properly trained and ensure the safety and security of our communities,” Brewster said.

Most of the organizations set to receive FCEMSGP funding belong to volunteer fire departments.

The funding comes at a time in Pennsylvania when the number of volunteer firefighters has been on a steady decline. The phenomenon is happening, too, at a time when fire departments have reported increased call volumes. Coupled together, the issue is causing financial woes for volunteer fire departments.

There were about 300,000 volunteer firefighters across the state in the 1970s. Today, there are about 38,000, according to a report released in November 2018 by the state House of Representatives.