Volunteer emergency response organizations across the
four-county region will receive more than $380,000 in state
funding, two local lawmakers announced on Tuesday.
All told, 43 different agencies will benefit from the funding
across McKean, Potter, Cameron and Elk counties.
The announcement was made by state Reps. Martin Causer,
R-Turtlepoint, and Kathy Rapp, R-Warren.
Officials said the funding is part of a larger $25 million grant
program administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management
Agency and Office of the State Fire Commissioner.
“This is great news for each and every one of us living in
northwest Pennsylvania because these grants will help our dedicated
volunteers continue their mission of providing public safety in our
communities,” Causer said.
Rapp said the volunteers are on the front lines in the local
communities, responding to everything from car accidents to
structure and forest fires and natural disasters.
“Each year, it seems that their day responsibilities continue to
increase while volunteers continue to remain in short supply,” Rapp
said. “It is my hope that obtaining this funding will help level
the playing field by making sure these brave men and women have the
equipment, training and anything else necessary to answer the call
when tragedy strikes.”
All told, McKean County agencies will garner a total of
$167,983.06; Cameron County, $28,500; Potter County, $100,126.64;
and Elk County, $90,798.13, according to figures supplied by the
lawmakers.
The funding is particularly needed in rural northcentral
Pennsylvania, where volunteer fire departments and related agencies
continually battle to retain members and upgrade equipment.
Officials said the latest round of funding will be used for
construction or renovation of a fire or ambulance company facility,
to purchase or repair equipment, provide training or to reduce
existing debt.
Last September, legislation was approved to restore the $25
million in funding to support the volunteer departments and
ambulance services. Causer has also introduced a bill that calls
for the creation of a new state emergency medical services
department which would transfer EMS responsibilities from the state
Department of Health, and in the future, provide increased support
and funding to emergency services agencies statewide.
On Tuesday, Causer said Gov. Ed Rendell wants to use impending
gambling money to fund the volunteer departments, adding last year
the funding was derived from the state’s general fund pool of money
after a supplemental appropriations bill was put forward.
“Quite frankly, it doesn’t matter where the money comes from as
long as the departments get the funding,” Causer said. “I believe
there is strong support in the Legislature to supply these grants.
It’s something that needs to be done on an annual basis.”
The following agencies garnered funding:
McKean County
The Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department, $12,339;
Derrick City Volunteer Fire Department, $9,814.87; Lewis Run
Volunteer Fire Department, $10,129.74; Corydon Township Volunteer
Fire Department, $9,814.87; Lafayette Township Volunteer Fire and
Rescue Department, $9,500; Hilltop Volunteer Fire Department Inc.
in Cyclone, $9,796.80; Eldred Borough Volunteer Fire Department
Inc., $9,500; Port Area Ambulance Service Inc. in Port Allegany,
$5,496.49; Eldred Township Volunteer Fire Department of McKean
County Inc. in Eldred, $9,814.87; Otto Township Volunteer Fire Co.,
Duke Center, $9,500; Port Allegany Fire Department-Star Hose,
$12,653.87; Rew Volunteer Fire Department, $9,500; Smethport Fire
Department, $7,500; Mount Jewett Fire Department and Ambulance
Association, $14,437.42; Kane Volunteer Fire Department, $9,500;
Ludlow Volunteer Fire Department, $9,500; and Hamlin Township
Volunteer Fire Department, $9,500.
Cameron County
Bucktail Volunteer Fire Department in Driftwood, $9,500;
Emporium Fire Department Inc., $9,500; and Sinnamahoning Volunteer
Fire and Ambulance, $9,500
Potter County
Austin Volunteer Fire Co., $5,496.49 for EMS operations and
$9,500 for fire company operations; Coudersport Volunteer Ambulance
Association, $5,496.49; Gale Hose Co. No. 1 in Galeton, $5,469.01;
Genesee Township Volunteer Fire Department in Genesee, $5,496.49
for EMS and $9,500 for the fire company; Kettle Creek Ambulance
Association in Cross Fork, $5,221.67; Tri-Town Volunteer Ambulance
Association in Ulysses, $5,496.49; Germania Fire Co. in Galeton,
$9,500; Goodyear Hose Co. No. 1 in Galeton, $9,500; Harrison
Township Volunteer Fire Co. in Harrison Valley, $9,500; Kettle
Creek Hose Co. No. 1, Cross Fork, $9,500; Shinglehouse Volunteer
Fire Co., $9,500; and Tri-Town Fire Co. in Ulysses, $9,500
Elk County
Crystal Fire Department in St. Marys, $12,653.87; Fox Township
Ambulance Association Inc. in Kersey, $4,910.22; Highland Township
Volunteer Fire Department in James City, $9,500; Horton Township
Volunteer Fire Department in Brockport, $9,500; Jay Township
Volunteer Fire Department in Byrnedale, $9,528.39; Johnsonburg Fire
Department, $9,500 for the fire company and $5,221.67 for EMS;
Ridgway Ambulance Corps, $5,496.49; Ridgway Fire Department,
$9,500; Wilcox Volunteer Fire Department, $9,500 for the fire
company and $5,496.49 for EMS.
