A state grant program is again helping many of Somerset County’s (PA) volunteer fire departments and EMS providers do their job.

Twenty-two companies are set to receive nearly $300,000 from the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services grant program this year, reports dailyamerican.com.

Officials say some departments plan to use the funds to pay down debt on emergency equipment and apparatus. The departments set to receive funds, according to the report, are:

• Acosta Volunteer Fire Co., $15,000
• Bakersville Volunteer Fire Co., $13,000
• Berlin Area Ambulance Association, $8,325.05
• Berlin Fire Department Inc., $15,000
• Boswell Volunteer Fire Department EMS, $5,826.05
• Boswell Volunteer Fire Department, $11,500
• Conemaugh Township EMS, $8,325.05
• Garrett Volunteer Fire Co., $15,000
• Hooversville Volunteer Fire Department, $15,000
• Jerome Volunteer Fire Co., $15,000
• Listie Volunteer Fire Co., $15,000
• Meyersdale Area Ambulance Association, $8,325.05
• New Baltimore & Area Volunteer Fire Co., $15,000
• Rockwood Volunteer Fire Co., $15,000
• Salisbury Volunteer Fire Department, $15,000
• Scalp Level-Paint Borough Volunteer Fire Department, $30,000
• Shanksville Volunteer Fire Co., $15,000
• Sipesville Volunteer Fire Co., $15,000
• Somerset Area Ambulance Association, $8,325.05
• Somerset Volunteer Fire Department, $14,300
• Stoystown Volunteer Fire Co., $15,000
• Windber Fire Co. No. 1 EMS, $8,325.05.

HERMITAGE, Feb. 11 – State Rep. Mark Longietti, D-Mercer, announced that 15 fire and EMS companies in the 7th Legislative District have been awarded $217,235 in state grants.

“First responders in our community step up and answer the call tirelessly, carrying out critical public safety duties despite constant funding challenges that strain resources and complicate their work,” Longietti said. “It’s my hope that by helping companies with the cost of equipment, training, building repairs and other immediate needs, this funding will keep these frontline heroes safe and make their jobs just a bit easier.”

Longietti said the following fire and EMS companies will receive grants in these amounts:

• Clark Volunteer Fire Department – $15,000.
• Farrell Volunteer Fire Department Inc. – $14,651.
• Greenville Fire Department – $15,000.
• Greenville Fire Department (EMS) – $8,325.
• Greenville Volunteer Fire Company – $15,000.
• Hermitage Volunteer Fire Dept. Inc. – $15,000.
• Patagonia Volunteer Fire Dept. – $15,000.
• Sharon Fire Department – $15,000.
• Sharpsville Volunteer Fire Department – $15,000.
• Shenango Township Volunteer Fire Department – $15,000.
• South Pymatuning Township Volunteer Fire Association – $15,000.
• Transfer Volunteer Fire Department – $15,000.
• West Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department – $15,000.
• West Salem Fire Department – $14,259.
• Wheatland Volunteer Fire Department – $15,000.

The grants are made possible by the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program, which is administered by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.

The grants can be used for facility construction and renovation, purchase or repair of equipment, fuel purchases, member training and certification, public education, recruitment and retention, debt reduction, overtime costs associated with backfilling positions while firefighters are training, and supplementing pandemic-related expenses.

Additional information, including a link to the full list of awardees, is available here.

The Fremont (NE) Fire Department is just about ready to put in service its new $571,000 Rosenbauer Engine 132, reports fremonttribune.com.

The purchase of the apparatus—which is larger and has more modern features than its predecessor, a 1995 E-ONE—was approved by city council in September 2020.

During its building process last June, department officials traveled to inspect the chassis before the truck’s body was built, the report says. They traveled back in January to conduct a final inspection a month after its completion.

The apparatus was delivered to the station on January 26, before equipment was installed. Officials hope it will be ready in the next couple of days. Crews are already training on it.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a four-vehicle crash that involved a Wayne Township fire truck and a semi, reports wcpo.com.

Officials say the apparatus was en route to a structure fire in Adams County around 4:30 p.m. Sunday when it collided with a semi at the intersection of Routes 32 and 136 in Winchester.

There’s no word as to how the other two vehicles were involved. All injuries are said to be non-life-threatening.