Rep. Pisciottano announces nearly $240,000 for local fire and EMS crews

Grants will fund equipment, facility upgrades

WEST MIFFLIN, Feb. 11 – State Rep. Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, announced today that nearly $240,000 in state grant funding has been awarded to 16 fire and EMS companies in the 38th Legislative District.

“We have some amazing first responders in our community and it’s important we make sure they have access to the resources they need to protect us,” Pisciottano said. “These funds, along with the $25 million for EMS companies that the House passed unanimously this week, will ensure our local heroes are adequately prepared to keep us safe this year.”

Grants were awarded to the following local fire and EMS organizations:

  • Baldwin Emergency Medical Services (Fire) - $15,000
  • Baldwin Emergency Medical Services (EMS) - $8,325
  • Baldwin Independent Fire Co. No. 1 - $15,000
  • Option Independent Fire Co. - $15,000
  • South Baldwin Volunteer Fire Co. - $15,000
  • Homeville Volunteer Fire Department - $12,600
  • Duquesne Annex Volunteer Fire Co. - $15,000
  • West Mifflin Volunteer Fire Co. No. 3 - $15,000
  • Skyview Volunteer Fire Co. West Mifflin No. 4 - $15,000
  • Broughton Volunteer Fire Department - $15,000
  • Library Volunteer Fire Co. - $15,000
  • Whitehall Fire Co. - $15,000
  • Pleasant Hills Volunteer Fire Co. - $14,864
  • Citizens Hose Co. No. 1 - $15,000
  • Vigilant Hose Co. No. 1 - $14,999
  • Volunteer Fireman’s Association of Liberty Borough - $15,000
  • McKeesport Ambulance Rescue Service - $8,325

The money is sourced from the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program, an annual grant program administered by the Office of State Fire Commissioner that is available for volunteer and career fire companies, emergency medical services and rescue squads.

The funding can be used for facility upgrades, equipment, debt reduction, training, education and public outreach, recruitment and retention, construction savings accounts, overtime costs associated with backfilling positions while firefighters are attending training (career departments only), and revenue loss due to COVID-19 impacts.

More than $29 million was awarded to 2,115 fire and EMS companies across the state in this round of funding. A full list of grant awardees can be found at this link: 2021-2022-FCEMSGP-Grant-Awards.pdf (pa.gov).