State Rep awards over $300K to area Fire, EMS companies

Nico Rossi
·2 min read

KINGSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — PA State Representative, Arron Kaufer (R-Luzerne County announced Thursday that 20 fire and emergency medical services (EMS) companies in Luzerne County were awarded $317,553.27 in grant funding.

These grants are critical to assisting our emergency services, especially at the volunteer level, to function efficiently and reliably. These grants are well-deserved and will help our brave first responders with their critically important and dangerous jobs.”

State Representative Aaron Kaufer

Firefighters battle fire at NEPA Mixed Martial Arts Studio

The following Following is a list of local companies that received grants:

  • Back Mountain Regional Fire and EMS (Fire) – $28,201.29

  • Back Mountain Regional Fire and EMS (EMS) – $20,000

  • Columbian Volunteer Fire Department – $15,590.33

  • Exeter Hose Company No. 1 – $13,450.59

  • Forty Fort Volunteer Fire Company – $14,812.24

  • Harding Fire Company – $14,617.72

  • Independent Fire Company No. 1 Inc. – $13,450.59

  • Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department of Luzerne County – $13,256.07

  • Kingston Fire Department – $15,784.85

  • Kingston Firemen`s Community Ambulance Association – $15,000

  • Kunkle Fire Company Inc. (Fire) – $14,034.16

  • Kunkle Fire Company Inc. (EMS) – $30,000

  • Maltby Volunteer Fire Company – $13,061.55

  • Mt. Zion Bicentennial Fire Company – $14,034.16

  • Shavertown Fire Department – $16,006.77

  • Swoyersville Hose Company – $13,256.07

  • Trucksville Volunteer EMS Fire and Rescue Association – $13,645.11

  • Volunteer Fire Department of Luzerne – $13,256.07

  • Wyoming Hose Company No. 1 – $13,839.63

  • Wyoming Volunteer Hose Company No. 2 – $13,256.07

Projects and programs eligible for funding include facility upgrades, equipment purchases, debt reduction, training and certification, education and public outreach, and recruitment and retention efforts.

Also, fire companies were permitted to apply for construction savings accounts for new facility construction.

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency administers the program with the application process handled through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC). The funding amounts depend on the recipients filing their grant agreements with OSFC.

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