Salisbury: More than $141K in grants coming to district fire, EMS companies

BRADDOCK, Feb. 16 – New resources are coming to fire and ambulance companies in the 34th Legislative District, thanks to $141,283 in grant funding from the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury announced today.

Salisbury, D-Allegheny, said the grants – awarded under the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program – will help get needed resources to local departments.

“Our fire and EMS companies face constant challenges, from tight budgets that make it tough to meet equipment, maintenance and other operating expenses to ongoing recruitment and retention issues,” Salisbury said. “Any additional funding we can secure can ease some of those administrative burdens and, most importantly, help ensure that our first responders have the equipment and training they need to stay as safe as possible.”

Salisbury said the funding includes:

  • Churchill Volunteer Fire Company (fire) – $13,256.
  • Edgewood Volunteer Fire Department (fire) – $15,000.
  • Edgewood Volunteer Fire Department (EMS) – $5,000.
  • Forest Hills Volunteer Fire Department (fire) – $16,952.
  • North Braddock Volunteer Fire Department Inc. (fire) – $20,000.
  • Rivers Edge VFD (fire) – $26,645.
  • Swissvale Fire Department (fire) – $15,000.
  • Swissvale Volunteer Fire Department (fire) – $14,812.
  • Wilkins Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 3 (fire) – $14,618.

The Fire and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program is administered by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner and covers projects including facility construction and renovation; equipment purchase or repair; debt reduction; training and certification of members; and recruitment and retention; among other projects. More about the program is available here:
https://www.osfc.pa.gov/GrantsandLoans/Volunteer%20Fire%20Company%20And%20Ambulance%20Grants/Pages/default.aspx.