Fire companies and EMS agencies throughout the region received state grants this week. The amounts were announced by area legislators:

Carbon County

Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, and Sen. Dave Argall, R-Schuylkill/Carbon/Luzerne, announced 26 fire and emergency medical service companies were awarded more than $400,000 in grant funding.

“It’s exciting to see these grant dollars given to our local fire and EMS companies that are on the frontline when an emergency strikes within our community,” said Heffley.

Grants include:

• Albrightsville Volunteer Fire Co. - $13,645.11.

• American Fire Company 1 - $14,423.20.

• Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company - $13,839.63.

• Beaver Meadows Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 - $13,839.63.

• Bowmanstown Volunteer Fire Company - $14,228.68.

• Citizens Fire Company # 1 of Weatherly PA - $14,034.16.

• Diligence Fire Co. 1 - $15,201.29.

• Diligent Fire Company No. 3 - $13,061.55.

• East Penn Township Volunteer Fire - $14,034.16.

• Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 - $15,395.81.

• Hauto Volunteer Fire Co. - $14,228.68.

• Lake Harmony Rescue and Ambulance Squad - $15,000.

• Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Company Inc. - $16,368.42.

• Lehigh and Lausanne Volunteer Fire and Rescue Co. - $13,645.11.

• Lehighton Ambulance Association Inc. - $15,000.

• Lehighton Fire Department - $16,951.99.

• Mahoning Valley Ambulance Association Inc. - $10,000.

• Mahoning Valley Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 Inc. - $15,979.38.

• Nesquehoning Hose Co. #1 - $16,951.99.

• New Columbus Fire Company Inc - $13,450.59.

• Onoko Fire and Rescue - $39,450.59.

• Palmerton Community Ambulance Association Inc. - $14,615.

• Palmerton Municipal Fire Department Support Team - $15,784.85.

• Penn Forest Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 - $15,006.77.

• Penn Forest Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 - $13,839.63.

• Towamensing Township Volunteer Fire Company - $13,450.59.

“I’m thankful so many local fire and EMS companies were awarded these highly competitive funds,” said Argall. “These grants are well-deserved and will help our brave first responders with their critically important and dangerous jobs.”

Projects and programs eligible for funding include facility upgrades, equipment purchases, debt reduction, training and certification, education and public outreach, and recruitment and retention efforts. Additionally, fire companies were permitted to apply for construction savings accounts for the purposes of new facility construction.

The program is administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency with the application process handled through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. All grants are generated from slot machine gaming proceeds, and not General Fund tax revenue.

Schuylkill County

A total of 101 agencies in Schuylkill County received grant funding, according to Sen. Dave Argall, R-29; Rep. JoAnne Stehr, R-107; Rep. Jamie Barton, R-124; and Rep. Tim Twardzik, R-123.

“I’ve met with many EMTs, paramedics and firefighters, and I know they stand ready to help the rest of us at a moment’s notice,” Barton said.

Twardzik said, “This funding will significantly bolster our first responders’ capabilities, ensuring they have the necessary resources to continue performing their lifesaving services. Our local emergency teams are looking for new volunteers so please contact your local firehouse or our district office to learn how you may be of assistance.”

All funding comes from the proceeds from slot machine gaming, and not General Fund tax revenue.

The grants include:

• American Hose Company No. 1: $16,951.99.

• Citizens Fire Company No. 1: $15,784.85.

• Coaldale Volunteer Fire Company No. 1: $15,006.77.

• Community Fire Company New Ringgold: $13,645.11.

• Delano Fire Company No. 1: $13,450.59.

• Friendship Hose Company No. 1: $14,812.24.

• Hometown Fire Company No. 1: $26,450.59.

• Mary D Fire Company Inc.: $26,645.11.

• New England Fire Company No. 1: $15,590.33.

• Penn Mahoning Ambulance Association Inc.: $15,000.

• Ryan Township Emergency and Rescue Squad Inc.: $10,000.

• Ryan Township Fire Company: $16,951.99.

• South Ward Fire Company Inc.: $15,201.29.

• Tamaqua Community Ambulance Association Inc.: $15,000.

Lehigh/Northampton

Rep. Zach Mako, R-Lehigh/Northampton, announced that 17 fire companies and emergency medical service companies serving the 183rd Legislative District were awarded almost $250,000 in Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service grants.

“This grant program helps fire and ambulance services purchase needed equipment to protect us in times of emergency,” Mako said. “While the amounts cannot pay for a fire engine or a building, it does assist with important other needs and reduces the need for fundraising. We owe our first responders a debt of gratitude for their service to our community.”

Fire and emergency medical services companies were awarded the following amounts:

• Community Fire Company of New Tripoli - $16,952.

• Diamond Fire Company - $15,979.

• Lehigh Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 - $16,757.

• Neffs Volunteer Fire Company - $15,396.

• Northern Valley Emergency Medical Services Inc. - $10,000.

• Slatington Volunteer Fire Department - $13,645.

• Tri Clover Fire Company - $13,645.

Monroe County

Eight fire and emergency medical services companies in the 176th Legislative District were collectively awarded more than $116,000 in funding support through the 2023-24 Pennsylvania Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program, Rep. Jack Rader, R-Monroe, announced.

“I am pleased we are able to provide these badly needed state grants to our local fire and ambulance companies so they can continue their lifesaving services to communities in the 176th Legislative District,” said Rader.

Local grants:

• Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company, $15,396.

• Kunkletown Volunteer Fire Company, $13,256.

• Pocono Mountain Regional EMS, $14,995.

• Pocono Summit Volunteer Fire Company, $14,423.

• Polk Township Volunteer Fire Company, $14,618.

• Tobyhanna Township Bureau of Fire-Station 44, $13,256.

• Tunkhannock Township Volunteer Fire Company, $13,256.

• West End Fire Company of Brodheadsville, $16,952.