Bureau of Forestry Announces Record Funding for Rural Firefighters

Grants Help Volunteer Companies Battle Forest Fires Across the State

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A record $666,553 will be awarded to help Pennsylvania's rural communities guard against the threat of fires in forests and other undeveloped areas, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary John Quigley announced today.

"These funds will be awarded to 172 volunteer fire companies serving rural areas and communities where forest and brush fires are common," Quigley said. "One only has to look back to this past spring—when dry, windy conditions spawned smaller fires in every county and several larger forest fires—to appreciate the value of these well-equipped and highly trained men and women."

Local firefighting forces in rural areas or communities with fewer than 10,000 residents qualify for the aid. Last year, the grant program awarded $604,710 to 162 fire companies across the state.

"The readiness of these volunteers is demonstrated even further every spring when they answer assistance calls coming from Western states," Quigley said. "These federal grants allow firefighters from smaller companies to concentrate more on public safety and training rather than having to concern themselves with fundraising and fiscal constraints."

Grant recipients were named following review of fire company applications that met a May 2010 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 bureau 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 received the bureau receives and uses 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 2011 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."

Media contact: Terry Brady, 717-772-9101.

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

Adams: Bendersville Community Fire Co.; Bendersville, $5,000; United Hook and Ladder Company No. 33, New Oxford,  $4,000; York Springs Fire Co. No. 1, York Springs, $4,988;

Allegheny: Lincoln Borough Volunteer Fire and Rescue Co., Elizabeth, $4,100; Oakdale Hose Co., Oakdale, $1,250; Allegheny Springdale Volunteer Fire Department, Springdale, $3,750;

Armstrong: Gilpin Township Volunteer Fire Department, Leechburg, $3,325; Parker City Volunteer Fire Co., Parker, $7,500; Sugarcreek Township Volunteer Fire Co. Inc., East Brady, $3,610;

Beaver: Brighton Township Volunteer Fire Department, Beaver, $2,215; Daugherty Township Volunteer Fire Department, New Brighton, $5,310; Economy Volunteer Fire Department, Baden, $3,000; Harmony Township Volunteer Firemen Inc., Ambridge, $3,805;

Bedford: Bedford Fire Department No. 1 Inc., Bedford; $3,275; Breezewood Volunteer Fire Co., Breezewood, $6,812; Everett Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 Inc., Everett, $3,100; Saxton Volunteer Fire Co., Saxton, $2,875;

Berks: Community Fire Co. of Frystown, Myerstown, $3,000; Monarch Fire Co., Douglassville, $7,500; The Union Fire Co. No 1 of Hamburg, $7,260; Walnuttown Fire Co. No. 1, Fleetwood, $7,049;

Blair: Bald Eagle Volunteer Fire Co., Tyrone, $3,428; Excelsior Volunteer Fire Department No. 1, Bellwood, Bellwood, $2,283; Geeseytown Community Fire Co., Hollidaysburg, $2,400; Greenwood Volunteer Fire Department, Altoona, $2,263; Kittanning Trail Fire Department, Altoona, $5,000;

Bradford: Endless Mountains Wildfire Crew, Towanda, $1,275; Litchfield Township Volunteer Fire Co., Sayre,  $7,300; South Creek Volunteer Fire Department Inc., Gillett, $6,800;

Bucks: Ottsville Volunteer Fire Co., Ottsville, $7,500; Upper Makefield Fire Co., Washington Crossing, $6,000;

Butler: Harrisville Volunteer Fire Co., Harrisville, $1,074; North Washington Volunteer Fire Department, North Washington; $486;

Cambria: Cover Hill Volunteer Fire Co., Johnstown, $3,720; Dauntless Fire Co., Ebensburg, $1,750; Franklin Borough Volunteer Fire Co., Johnstown, $2,488; Nicktown Fire Co., Nicktown, $3,163; Richland Township Fire Department, Johnstown, $7,500;

Carbon: Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Co., Aquashicola, $2,690; Bowmanstown Volunteer Fire Co., Bowmanstown, $750; Citizens' Fire Co. No. 1, Weatherly, $2,265; Diligent Fire Co. No. 3, Jim Thorpe, $5,600; Hauto Volunteer Fire Co., Nesquehoning, $5,500; Tresckow Volunteer Fire Co.  No. 1, Tresckow, $5,500;

Centre: Logan Fire Co., Bellefonte, $500; Millheim Fire Co., Millheim, $7,500;

Chester: Cochranville Fire Co., Cochranville, $4,082; Pomeroy Fire Co. No. 1, Pomeroy, $3,750;

Clearfield: Winburne Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, Winburne, $1,750;

Clinton: Castanea Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, Lock Haven, $7,500; Chapman Township Volunteer Fire Co., North Bend, $5,135;

Columbia: Catawissa Hose Co. No. 1, Catawissa, $3,499; Lightstreet Community Fire Co., Bloomsburg, $1,833: Mifflin Township Volunteer Relief Association, Mifflinville, $1,313; Millville Community Fire Co., Millville, $3,430; North Mountain Fire Co., Benton, $1,453; Ranger Hose Co. No. 2, Berwick, $1,831;

Crawford: Blooming Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Saegertown, $5,000; Conneaut Lake Park Volunteer Fire Department, Conneaut Lake, $7,224; Fellows' Club Inc. Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance, Conneautville, $7,500; West Mead Township District 2 Volunteer Fire Co., Meadville, $1,057;

Dauphin:  Fisherville Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, Halifax, $1,470; Hershey Volunteer Fire Co., Hershey, $1,605; West Hanover Township Fire Co. No. 1, Harrisburg, $4,150; Wiconisco Fire Engine Co. No. 1, Wiconisco, $7,500;

Delaware:  Chester Heights Fire Co. No. 1, Chester Heights, $6,000;

Erie:  Elgin-Beaverdam Hose Co., Elgin, $3,275;

Fayette:  Brownsville Fire Co. No. 1, Brownsville, $1,622; Bullskin Township Volunteer Fire Co., Connellsville, $3,684; Connellsville Township Volunteer Fire Department, Connellsville, $3,350; Monarch Volunteer Fire Department, Dunbar, $7,500; Point Marion Volunteer Fire Department, Point Marion, $7,500; Republic  Volunteer Fire  Co., Republic, $2,500; Saltlick Township Volunteer Fire Department, Indian Head, $7,500;

Franklin:  Mercersburg, Montgomery, Peters and Warren Volunteer Fire Co., Mercersburg, $7,500; Pleasant Hall Volunteer Fire Co., Pleasant Hall, $800;

Fulton:  McConnellsburg Volunteer Fire Co. No.1 Inc., McConnellsburg, $3,150;

Greene:  Richhill Township Volunteer Fire Department, Wind Ridge, $7,500;

Huntingdon:  Huntingdon Fire Department, Huntingdon, $7,469; Huntingdon Mill Creek Borough Volunteer Fire Co., Mill Creek, $5,300; Orbisonia Rockhill Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, Orbisonia, $3,500;

Indiana:  Clymer Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, Clymer, $4,394; Coal Run/McIntyre Volunteer Fire Department, Clune, $7,500;

Jefferson:  Big Run Area Volunteer Fire Co.; Big Run, $1,500; Friendship Hose Co. No. 1 Inc., Falls Creek, $1,200;  Pine Creek Volunteer Firemen's' Association, Brookville, $7,500;

Juniata:  Delaware Township Fire Co. No. 6, Mifflintown, $1,350; Juniata Wildland Firefighters Inc., McAlisterville, $7,500;

Lackawanna: Chinchilla Hose Co. of South Abington Township, Chinchilla, $7,500; Dalton Fire Co., Dalton, $3,350; Fleetville Volunteer Fire Co. of Benton Township, Fleetville, $1,185; Greenwood Hose Co. No. 1, Moosic, $5,500; Maddisonville Independent Fire Co., Madison Township, $7,500; Thornhurst Volunteer Fire and Rescue Co., Thornhurst, $5,500;

Lancaster:  Bainbridge Fire Co., Bainbridge, $3,000; Columbia Consolidated Fire Department, Columbia, $3,615; Keystone Wildfire Crew Inc., Holtwood, $1,500; Penn Hills Wildland Crew, Peach Bottom, $3,500; Reinholds Station Fire Co. No. 1,  Reinholds; $7,500;

Lawrence:  District 8 Hot Shots, Volant, $878; Shenango Township Volunteer Fire Department, New Castle, $3,021; Union Township Volunteer Fire Department and Relief  Association, New Castle, $5,572;

Lehigh:  Citizen's Fire Co. of Upper Milford Township, Emmaus, $4,250; Fountain Hill Fire Department, Bethlehem, $2,514; Lower Milford Township Fire Co. No. 1, Coopersburg, $7,500;

Luzerne:  Consolidated Fire Co. of Newport Township, Nanticoke, $7,500; Dorrance Township Volunteer Fire Department, Wapwallopen, $3,950; Plymouth Township Fire and Rescue - Tilbury Station, West Nanticoke, $3,767; Sweet Valley Volunteer Fire Co., Sweet Valley, $7,500; Wright Township Volunteer Firemen's' Association, Mountain Top, $1,941;

Lycoming:  Lairdsville Community Volunteer Fire Co., Lairdsville, $7,500; Old Lycoming Township Volunteer Fire Co., Williamsport, $2,000; The Picture Rocks Volunteer Fire Co.,  Picture Rocks, $5,500; Troutrun Volunteer Fire Co., Trout Run, $2,233; Washington Township Volunteer Fire Co., Allenwood, $1,258; Willing Hand Hose Co. No. 1 Inc., Montoursville, $1,021;

McKean:  Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department, Bradford, $5,938; Derrick City Volunteer Fire Department, Derrick City, $2,500; Eldred Township Volunteer Fire Department of McKean County, Eldred, $7,500; Kane Volunteer Fire Department Inc., Kane, $5,925;

Mifflin:  Junction Fire Co., Lewistown, $3,000;

Monroe:  Tobyhanna Township Volunteer Fire Co., Pocono Pines, $7,500;

Montgomery:  Green Lane Fire Co., Green Lane, $7,500;

Northampton:  Klecknersville Rangers Volunteer Fire Co., Bath, $7,500; Se-Wy-Co Volunteer Fire Co., Bethlehem, $4,750; Washington Township Vol. Firemen's Relief Association, Bangor, $3,005;

Northumberland:   East Sunbury Hose Co. No. 1, Sunbury, $1,500; Elysburg Fire Co. No. 1, Elysburg, $3,250;

Potter:  Austin Volunteer Fire Co. Inc., Austin, $3,750;

Schuylkill: Altamont Fire Co. No. 1, Frackville, $3,150; American Hose Co. No. 1, Ashland, $1,000; American Hose Co. No. 1, Tamaqua, $4,000; Donaldson Fire Co., Donaldson, $500; Good Intent Fire Co., New Philadelphia, $1,614; Goodwill Fire Co. No. 1, Port Carbon, $525; Mahantongo Fire Co., Pitman, $1,000; Quakake Volunteer Fire Co. Inc., Quakake, $7,500; Washington Fire Co. No. 1, Ashland, $3,655;

Snyder:  Bannerville Volunteer Fire Co., McClure, $2,250; Hummels Wharf Fire Co., Hummels Wharf, $5,700; Penns Creek Volunteer Fire Co., Penns Creek, $360; Port Trevorton Fire Co., Port Trevorton, $6,400; Reliance Hose Co. No.1, Middleburg, $2,040;

Somerset:  Confluence Volunteer Fire Co., Confluence, $760; Hooversville Fire Department, Hooversville, $3,732;

Sullivan:  Muncy Valley Area Volunteer Fire Co., Muncy Valley, $5,542;

Susquehanna:  Clifford Township Volunteer Fire Co., Clifford, $1,500; Forest City Area Emergency Services, Forest City, $6,460; Rush Volunteer Fire Department, Lawton, $1,500;

Tioga:  Blossburg Volunteer Fire Department Inc., Blossburg, $3,750; Chatham Township Volunteer Fire Co., Little Marsh, $7,500; Knoxville-Deerfield Volunteer Fire Co., Knoxville, $1,500; Mansfield Hose Co., Mansfield, $3,578; Middlebury Township Volunteer Fire Department Inc., Middlebury Center, $3,750;

Venango:  Cherrytree Township Volunteer Fire Department, Titusville, $3,236; Emlenton Volunteer Firefighters Association, Emlenton, $5,100; Oakland Township Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association, Cooperstown, $1,284;

Warren:  Garland Volunteer Fire Department, Garland, $3,893; North Warren Volunteer Fire Department, Warren, $7,478;  Starbrick Volunteer Fire Department, Warren, $3,379; Tidioute Area Volunteer Fire Department Inc., Tidioute; $7,500;

Washington:  California Volunteer Fire Department, California, $1,263; Midway Volunteer Fire Department of Washington County, Midway, $1,588; Stockdale Volunteer Fire Department, Stockdale, $3,000;

Wayne:  Seelyville Fire Co., Seelyville, $1,762; Texas No. 4 Fire Co., Honesdale, $7,500;

Westmoreland:  Markle Volunteer Fire Co., Apollo, $810; Sutersville Volunteer Fire Co., Sutersville, $7,500; Upper Burrell Township Volunteer Fire Co., New Kensington, $2,651; Whitney-Hostetter Volunteer Fire Department, Whitney, $3,750;

Wyoming:  Factoryville Volunteer Fire Co., Factoryville, $1,363;

York:  Franklintown and Community Fire Co., Franklintown, $6,250.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources