Gov. Tom Wolf announced Feb. 9 the approval of grant awards totaling more than $29 million for 2,115 recipients under the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service grant program.

Fire company and emergency medical service recipients from Lehigh County include:

·Cetronia Ambulance Corps Inc., $8,325.05;

·Good Will Fire Company No. 1 of Trexlertown, $15,000;

·Goodwill Fire Company No. 1 Inc., Germansville, $15,000;

·Laurys Station Volunteer Fire Company, $15,000;

·Lynnport Community Fire Company No. 1, New Tripoli, $15,000;

·Neffs Volunteer Fire Company, $15,000;

·Northern Valley Emergency Medical Services Inc., Ormrod, $8,325.05;

·Slatington Volunteer Fire Department, $15,000;

·Upper Macungie Township Station 56, $15,000;

·Weisenberg Volunteer Fire Department, $15,000; and

·Woodlawn Fire Department, $15,000.

Berks County:

·Kempton Fire Company Inc., Albany Township, Berks County, will receive $15,000.

“Fire and EMS companies are depended upon by Pennsylvanians each and every day to provide essential and often lifesaving services,” Wolf said. “We know that these organizations continue to experience negative impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic and some are struggling financially. Grant programs like these are vital financial lifelines.”

The Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services grant program is administered by the Office of State Fire Commissioner and makes an annual grant program available for volunteer and career fire companies, emergency medical services and rescue squads.

All fire companies, emergency medical service, and volunteer rescue squads are eligible to apply for this annual grant program.

Eligible projects in accordance with the 2021-22 program, include facility upgrades, equipment, debt reduction, training, education and public outreach, recruitment and retention, construction savings account, overtime costs associated with backfilling positions while firefighters are attending training (career departments only) and revenue loss due to COVID-19 impacts.

“Fire Companies and Emergency Medical Services companies throughout the commonwealth continue to deal the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Acting State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook said. “Increased call volume, rising costs, and revenue loss have each made operations more difficult for our first responders.

“As such, our office is pleased to help get financial assistance into communities across the state.”

A complete list of grant awardees, as well as additional program eligibility requirements and important dates and information associated with future program funding rounds may be found at osfc.pa.gov.