HARRISBURG, PA — Representatives Jeff Olsommer (R-Pike/Wayne) and Jonathan Fritz (R-Susquahanna/Wayne) announced on Wednesday, February 12 that significant funding was awarded to fire and emergency medical services (EMS) companies in the Wayne/Pike area through the 2024-25 Pennsylvania Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program.

“Local fire and EMS companies, especially in the rural parts of the state, work tirelessly to protect us – no matter the time of day or season of the year,” Olsommer said. “This funding will surely go a long way to make sure our brave first responders have the resources they need to keep us safe.”

“We all recognize these are challenging times for units struggling to retain and attract personnel and to secure the funding to keep equipment and training up to standard,” Fritz said. “These grants are well-deserved and will help our brave first responders with their critically important and dangerous jobs.”

More than $542,000 was awarded to 39 fire and emergency medical services (EMS) companies in Fritz' 111th Legislative District, which includes Wayne and Susquehanna Counties.  More than $425,000 was awarded to fire and emergency medical services (EMS) companies in Olsommer's 139th Legislative District, which includes Wayne and Pike Counties.  

Projects eligible for funding include construction or renovation of a fire or ambulance company facility, purchase or repair of equipment, training, or reduction of existing debt. The ongoing funding program was created by the General Assembly. All grants are generated from slot machine gaming proceeds, not General Fund tax revenue.

The local grants are as follows:

Pike County, 139th District:

·         Blooming Grove Township Volunteer Fire Department No. 1: $13,061.55.

·         Central Volunteer Fire Department: $15,395.81.

·         Dingman Township Volunteer Fire Department Inc. (Fire): $15,201.29.

·         Dingman Township Volunteer Fire Department Inc. (EMS): $15,000.

·         Forest Volunteer Fire Department: $16,952.

·         Greeley Volunteer Fire Department Inc.: $13,450.59.

·         Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company (Fire): $13,256.07.

·         Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company (EMS): $15,000.

·         Lackawaxen Township Volunteer Ambulance Service: $15,000.

·         Lackawaxen Township Volunteer Fire Department: $13,256.07.

·         Matamoras Fire Department Inc.: $13,645.10.

·         Milford Volunteer Fire Company (Fire): $15,784.85.

·         Milford Volunteer Fire Company (EMS): $14,989.

·         Promised Land Volunteer Fire and Ambulance: $13,061.50.

·         Shohola Township Ambulance: $15,000.

·         Shohola Township Volunteer Fire and Rescue Inc.: $13,839.63.

·         Tafton Fire Company Inc. (Fire): $14,423.20.

·         Tafton Fire Company Inc. (EMS): $10,000.

·         Westfall Township Volunteer Fire Department (EMS): $10,000.

·         Westfall Township Volunteer Fire Department (Fire): $15,000.

Wayne County, 139th District:

·         Gouldsboro Ambulance Squad Inc.: $15,000.

·         Gouldsboro Volunteer Fire Company: $16,952.

·         Greene Dreher Volunteer Fire Association: $13,256.07.

·         Hamlin Fire and Rescue Company (Fire): $14,228.68.

·         Hamlin Fire and Rescue Company (EMS): $15,000.

·         Hawley Fire Department Inc.: $14,034.16.

·         Lake Ariel Fire Company: $15,395.81.

·         Lakeville Volunteer Fire Company: $15,201.29.

·         Ledgedale Volunteer Fire Company: $13,450.59.

·         Waymart Volunteer Fire Company: $15,395.81.

Wayne County, 111th District

·         Alert Hook and Ladder Company No. 2: $13,309.52.

·         Browndale Fire Company No.1: $13,094.35.

·         Damascus Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps Inc. $15,000.

·         Equinunk Volunteer Fire Company: $12,448.81.

·         Hose Company No. 1: $13,739.88.

·         Northern Wayne Fire Company: $12,448.81.

·         Pleasant Mount Emergency Services Inc. $15,000.

·         Prompton Fire and Rescue Unit: $12,448.81.

·         Protection Engine Company No. 3: $12,233.63.

·         Seelyville Fire Company: $13,309.52.

·         Texas No. 4 Fire Company: $15,030.95.

·         Volunteer Fire Company of Beach Lake: $13,739.88.

·         Waymart Volunteer Fire Company: $14,600.59.

·         Welcome Lake Fire and Rescue Inc.: $12,018.46.

The program is administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency with the application process handled through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC). All companies that apply and meet requirements outlined by OSFC receive funding. Companies must file a grant agreement with OSFC to receive their grants.

The 139th Legislative District is comprised of parts of Pike and Wayne counties, consisting of the townships of Blooming Grove, Dingman, Greene, Lackawaxen, Milford, Palmyra (Pike), Shohola, Westfall, Cherry Ridge, Dreher, Lake, Lehigh, Paupack, Palmyra (Wayne), Salem, South Canaan and Sterling; and the boroughs of Matamoras, Milford and Hawley.