3 Somerset County fire departments receive grant funding

Madolin Edwards, The Daily American
·5 min read

The Shapiro Administration has awarded $883,143 in grants to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities increase protection from wildfires, while encouraging fire safety across the state.

Three of the 142 departments receiving Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants are from Somerset County – Confluence, Scalp Level Paint and Wellersburg.

"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 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."

Grants are awarded on a cost-share basis. The maximum grant awarded in 2023 is $12,500, and grants awarded cannot exceed 50% of the actual expenditures of local, public, and private nonprofit organizations in the agreement.

Scalp Level Paint in Windber received $12,500 and the Wellersburg fire company received $3,300. Confluence will be receiving $7,126. Fire Chief Tyler Byrd said the money will be used to add some extra chainsaws, leaf blowers and forestry jumpsuits.

"It's protective equipment. Ours are outdated," he said. "We wear them when we go into brush fires."

Byrd said, combined with the $136,781.90 Confluence VFD received in September through the Federal Emergency Management Agency firehouse grants, this money gives Confluence the opportunity to upgrade much-needed equipment. With a 5% contribution, or $6,839.10, by the department, that will total $143,621 for the department to buy 16 self-contained breathing apparatus.

"We use that any time we go into air hazards, that we might be breathing in anything toxic," he said. "We're replacing the ones we have that are outdated. They're 15 years old and each usually has a 15-year lifespan."

Byrd said the department is very fortunate to be a recipient of these two grants.

"Those are two we applied for and got. The money will be really helpful," he said. "All the donations the community makes we will put toward other projects and paying the bills, including gas for the trucks, water and electricity. We're been very fortunate."

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Outstanding community service

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."

Grant priorities

Priority was placed on projects that include the purchase of wildfire suppression equipment and protective clothing.

Grants may also be used for purchasing mobile or portable radios, installing dry hydrants, wildfire prevention and mitigation work, training wildfire fighters, or converting and maintaining federal excess vehicles. The vehicles are presented to the local departments exhibiting the greatest needs and those that commit to outfitting them for fire suppression.

Though the state has seen an increased number of wildfires in 2023, the greatest danger of wildfires in Pennsylvania occurs during the autumn months of October and November, and the spring months of March, April and May. In Pennsylvania, 99% of all wildfires are caused by people.

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Certain conditions are necessary for a wildfire to occur:

  • An available fuel source, such as dried grass or leaves

  • Dry conditions, including low relative humidity

  • An ignition source – some way for the fire to start

DCNR encourages those starting a fire at home or at a campsite to make sure there are no combustible items within 10 feet of the fire. Additionally, it is recommended to have a rake or shovel along with water to properly suppress the embers of a fire. Finally, officials recommend checking DCNR’s website to see if there is an elevated fire risk.Advice from DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry includes:

  • Clear the area around the fire prior to starting it;

  • Keep the fire small and never leave it unattended;

  • Before you strike a campfire match, first consider if it is too warm, dry or windy for a fire and if the surrounding area is free of leaves and other combustibles;

  • Make sure there is a ready source of water (bucket or hose) nearby and a rake to extinguish any embers that might escape; and

  • When you are done with the fire put it out with water until all ashes are cold to the touch.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset area firefighters receive much needed safety equipment