Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry Announces Funding for Rural Firefighters

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than $604,000 in grants are being 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 Cindy Adams Dunn announced today.

"A total of 142 volunteer fire companies across the state, all serving rural areas and communities where forest and brush fires are common, will benefit from these funds," Dunn said. "One only has to look back to last spring when two wildfires spread over 8,000 acres in Monroe and Pike counties to appreciate the value of well-equipped and highly trained wildfire fighters."

Local firefighting forces in rural areas or communities with fewer than 10,000 residents qualify for the aid.

"The readiness of these men and women is demonstrated every spring and summer when they answer assistance calls coming from other states, while also responding regularly to local woodland and brush fires," Dunn said. "These federal grants allow firefighters from smaller companies to concentrate more on public safety and training while easing their fiscal constraints."

Grant recipients were named following review of fire company applications meeting a May 2016 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 also were awarded for mobile or portable radios, water supply installations, wildfire prevention and mitigation, wildfire fighting training, and to convert and maintain federal excess vehicles 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 2017 applications next spring.

To expedite the application and decision-making processes, the bureau accepts only online applications. Potential applicants should visit www.dcnr.pa.gov 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 "Forestry."

Media contact: Terry Brady, 717-772-9101; [email protected]

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

Allegheny
Gallatin Sunnyside Volunteer Fire Department, Elizabeth, $1,700.
Beaver
Independence Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, Aliquippa $1,000; Industry Borough Volunteer Fire Department, Industry, $7,500.
Bedford
Everett Volunteer Fire Co., Everett $3,675; Six Mile Run Area Volunteer Fire Co, Six Mile Run, $2,083.
Berks  
Boyertown Area Fire & Rescue Inc., Boyertown, $7,095; Gibraltar Fire Co., Birdsboro, $7,500;
Walnuttown Fire Co. No. 1, Fleetwood, $3,712.
Blair    
Freedom Township Volunteer Fire Co., East Freedom, $4,000.
Bradford         
Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department, Canton, $7,500.
Butler  
Prospect Volunteer Fire Department, Prospect, $2,550; West Sunbury Volunteer Fire Department, West Sunbury, $3,500.
Cambria         
Cresson Volunteer Fire Co., Cresson $3,900; Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Co., Johnstown, $7,036; Nicktown Fire Company, Nicktown, $6,575; Vintondale Fire Department, Vintondale, $3,000; West Hills Regional Fire Department Inc, Johnstown, $7,500.
Carbon
American Fire Co., No. 1, Lansford, $4,537; Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Co., Lake Harmony, $7,500; Lehighton Fire Department, Lehighton, $1,850; Mahoning Valley Volunteer Fire Co. No 1 Inc., Lehighton, $3,750; Towamensing Township Volunteer Fire Co., Palmerton $7,500.
Centre
Centre Hall Volunteer Fire Co., Centre Hall $2,661; Reliance Volunteer Fire Co., Philipsburg $1,005.
Chester          
Cochranville Fire Co. No. 1, Cochranville, $2,505; Malvern Fire Co., Malvern, $4,498; Modena Fire Co. No. 1, Coatesville, $6,850.
Clarion
Knox Volunteer Fire Co., Knox, $3,937; New Bethlehem Fire Co. 1, New Bethlehem, $7,500.
Clearfield        
Madera Volunteer Fire Co. Inc., Madera, $1,970; Union Township Civilian Defense Fire Co., Rockton, $3,750.
Clinton
Chapman Township Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, North Bend, $7,500.
Columbia
Beaver Township Vol Fire Co., Bloomsburg, $4,800; Main Township Volunteer Fire Co., Bloomsburg, $2,128
Crawford
Venango Volunteer Fire Department, Venango, $3,285.
Dauphin          
Carsonville Fire Co. 1, Halifax, $1,157; Fisherville Vol Fire Co. No. 1, Halifax, $1,000; Halifax Fire Department, Halifax, $3,991; Hershey Volunteer Fire Co., Hershey $7,500.
Erie
Elgin Beaver Dam Hose Company, Elgin $2,250.
Fayette
Bullskin Township Volunteer Fire Co., Connellsville $5,860; Everson Volunteer Fire Co., Everson, $7,500; Fairchance Volunteer Fire Co., Fairchance, $2,570; Farmington VFD, Farmington $7,500; Fayette City Volunteer Fire Co, Fayette City, $1,970; Morrell Volunteer Fire Department, S. Connellsville, $2,500; New Salem Volunteer Fire Department, New Salem, $3,500; Smock Volunteer Fire Departmnet, Smock, $3,760; Washington Township Volunteer Fire Co., Belle Vernon, $6,559.
Franklin          
Blue Ridge Mountain Volunteer Fire & Rescue Squad Inc., Blue Ridge Summit, $2,500; St. Thomas Township Volunteer Fire and Rescue Co Inc., St. Thomas, $3,125.
Greene
Jefferson Volunteer Fire Co., Jefferson, $1,536.
Huntingdon
Huntingdon Regional Fire & Rescue, Huntingdon, $7,500; Marklesburg Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, James Creek, $7,500.
Indiana
Armagh & East Wheatfield Township Volunteer Fire Co., Armagh, $1,175; Clymer Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, Clymer $3,750; Tunnelton Volunteer Fire Department, Saltsburg, $4,126.
Lackawanna  
Excelsior Hose Co No. 1, Olyphant, $3,000; Greenfield Township Volunteer Fire Co., Greenfield Township $2,250; Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Co., Hamlin, $6,000; Newton Ransom Volunteer Fire Co. Inc., Clarks Summi, $5,229.
Lancaster
Adamstown Fire Co., Adamstown, $1,296;  Kinzer Fire Co., Coatesville, $4,789; Robert Fulton Fire Co., Peach Bottom, $3,750; Weaverland Valley Fire Department, Terre Hill, $4,804.
Lawrence
New Beaver Borough Volunteer Fire Department, Wampum $2,900; Volant Volunteer Fire Company, Volant, $2,767.
Lebanon
Community Fire Company of Cornwall Borough, Lebanon, $3,300; Mount Gretna Community Volunteer Fire Co., Mt. Gretna, $1,560; Schaefferstown Volunteer Fire Co. No 1, Schaefferstown, $1,572.
Lehigh
Lower Milford Township Fire Co. 1, Coopersburg, $580; Slatington Volunteer Fire Department, Slatington, $2,985.
Luzerne          
Exeter Hose Co. No. 1, Exeter, $4,000.
Luzerne          
Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Co., Dallas, $4,900; Newport Township Consolidated Fire Co., Nanticoke, $3,100; Sweet Valley Volunteer Fire Co., Sweet Valley $7,500.
Lycoming
Citizens Hose Co. of Jersey Shore, Jersey Shore, $851; Eldred Township Volunteer Fire Co., Montoursville, $4,500; Independent Hose Co. No. 1, Jersey Shore, $7,500; Muncy Township Volunteer Fire, Muncy, $7,500; Plunketts Creek Township Fire Department, Williamsport, $1,255; Washington Township Volunteer Fire Co., Allenwood, $2,125.
Mifflin
West Granville Fire Company, Lewistown $3,750.
Monroe
Kunkletown Volunteer Fire Co., Kunkletown $1,725.
Northampton
Blue Valley Rescue Squad, Bangor, $4,370; Charotin Hose Co. No. 1, North Catasauqua, $6,725; Dewey Fire Co. No. 1, Hellertown, $5,500; North Bangor Fire Co., Bangor $5,826.
Northumberland
Elysburg Fire Co. 1, Elysburg $1,979;  Lower Mahanoy Fire Co., Herndon, $7,500; Turbot Township Fire Co., Milton, $3,256.
Perry
Duncannon Fire Co. Inc. No. 1, Duncannon, $4,290; Landisburg Volunteer Fire Co., Landisburg, $6,681; Shermansdale Community Fire Co., Shermans Dale, $5,340.
Pike
Promised Land Volunteer Fire & Ambulance, Greentown, $7,500.
Schuylkill
Altamont Fire Co. No. 1, Frackville, $905; Klingerstown Fire Co No 1, Klingerstown,  $7,500;
Phoenix Hose Co. No. 4, Pottsville, $475; Ringtown Valley Fire and Rescue Co., Ringtown, $7,500; Sheppton Oneida Volunteer Fire Company, Sheppton, $7,463; Tremont Fire Co. No. 1, Tremont, $4,058; Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 of Tower City, Tower City, $1,231.
Snyder
Hummels Wharf Volunter Fire Company, Hummels Wharf, $7,038; Port Trevorton Fire Co., Port Trevorton, $3,600.
Somerset
Boswell Volunteer Fire Department, Boswell, $1,236; Central City Fire Department, Central City, $1,750; Hooversville Volunteer Fire Department, Hooversville, $640; Jennerstown Volunteer Fire Department, Boswell, $6,250; New Baltimore & Area Volunteer Fire Co., New Baltimore, $7,500; New Centerville & Rural Volunteer Fire Co., Rockwood, $7,500; Windber Fire Co. No.1, Windber, $1,750.
Susquehanna
Great Bend Hose Co. No. 1, Great Bend, $4,135.
Tioga
Liberty Volunteer Fire Company Inc., Liberty $2,134;  Middlebury Township Volunteer Fire Department, Middlebury, $7,500.
Morris Township Fire Co., Trout Run, $3,187.
Union
Union Township Fire Company, Winfield, $2,248.
Venango
Chapmanville Volunteer Fire Department, Titusville, $1,181; Clintonville Volunteer Fire Department, Emlenton, $3,746; Cooperstown VVF, Cooperstown, $2,773; Oakland Township Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association, Cooperstown, $2,300; Pleasantville Volunteer Fire Department, Pleasantville $7,047; Rockland Township Volunteer Fire Department, Kennerdell, $7,143; Sandycreek Township Volunteer Fire Department, Franklin,  $3,930.
Warren
Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department, Clarendon, $2,250; Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, Clarendon, $3,000; Spring Creek Township Volunteer Fire Department, Spring Creek $5,550; Tidioute Volunteer Fire Department, Tidioute, $2,000.
Washington
Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department, Burgettstown, $3,625; Taylorstown Volunteer Fire Co., Taylorstown, $7,500; West Finley Volunteer Fire Co., West Finley, $6,460.
Wayne
Lake Ariel Fire Co., Lake Ariel, $7,500; Northern Wayne Fire Co., Lakewood, $7,500; White Mills Fire Department, Honesdale, $3,500.
Westmoreland
Derry Township Volunteer Fire Department No. 1, Bradenville, $7,500; Derry Volunteer Fire Department, Derry, $4,223; East Huntingdon Township Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 & Relief Association, Tarrs, $7,500.
Volunteer Fire Co. of Seward, Seward, $5,918.
Wyoming
Lake Winola Fire Co. 1, Lake Winola, $3,750; Northmoreland Township Volunteer Fire Co., Tunkhannock, $1,250.
York
Citizens Hose Co. No. 1 of Dillsburg, Dillsburg, $2,191; Friendship Fire Co., Hallam, $7,500; Nashville Volunteer Fire Co., Spring Grove, $947.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Related Links

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us