Volunteer fire companies in rural areas are being encouraged to apply for grants of up to $10,000.
The money comes from the Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program and is for fire departments in communities with less than 10,000 residents where forest and brush fires are common. The grant money would be used for training and equipment purchases directly related to fighting brush and forest fires, whether it’s purchasing equipment or paying for training. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which is administering the grant, is giving priority to requests for projects that include the purchase of wildfire-suppression equipment and protective clothing.
Senator Joe Pittman is saying that the money is vital as the Covid-19 crisis has put Pennsylvania Fire Departments and EMS squads in a severe financial problem, as many of the fundraising efforts have been cancelled due to stay-at-home orders from the pandemic. Pittman is working on legislation to establish a one-time grant program to support first responders during this time.
The application is available online at https://www.grants.dcnr.state.pa.us/Dashboard/VFAGrant
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