Northeast Legislators Announce Key COVID-19 Funding for Area Fire, Rescue and EMS Companies

October 9, 2020

EAST STROUDSBURG – With Pennsylvania first responder companies suffering heavy financial losses due to COVID-19, Reps. Rosemary Brown (R-Monroe/Pike), Jonathan Fritz (R-Susquehanna/Wayne) and Mike Peifer (R-Pike/Wayne) announced today that first responder companies located in Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna and Wayne counties collectively will receive more than $1 million in state grants from the Office of the State Fire Commissioner to help counter these losses.

“Every day, especially now with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we depend on our first responders to put their lives on the line to assist us in dire situations,” Brown said. “However, this pandemic has taken a toll on these companies as funds have fallen short. Most of these companies operate with community first responder volunteers and heavily depend on local fundraisers to help keep their stations in operation. These state grants are a steppingstone – allowing these companies to continue with their recovery process.”

“This pandemic continues to take a toll on our state with not only our residents and small businesses suffering financially, but our first responders as well,” said Fritz. “With the indoor and outdoor gathering guidance continuing to change, fundraising opportunities for these first responder companies have been severely limited or nonexistent, which is why these state grants are so vital in aiding these companies financially as they continue to get back on their feet.”

“Our first responders are highly valued in our communities as they continue to provide life-saving services, even while dealing with this pandemic,” said Peifer. “These grants are a lifeline for most of these companies and I am happy they are receiving financial assistance that they desperately need to keep their facilities open.”

The grant breakdown for each county is as follows:

Monroe County, $110,095:
Barrett Township Volunteer Fire Company, $11,094.
Blue Ridge Hook and Ladder Fire Company No.1, $22,740.
Marshalls Creek Fire Company, $23,562.
Shawnee Fire Company, $22,603.
Bushkill Emergency Corps, $15,048.
Marshalls Creek Fire Company EMS, $15,048.

Pike County, $388,040:
Blooming Grove Township Volunteer Fire Department 1, $22,603.
Bushkill Fire Company, $24,794.
Central Volunteer Fire Department, $23,699.
Delaware Township Volunteer Fire Company, $22,877.
Dingman Township Volunteer Fire Department, $24,520.
Forest Volunteer Fire Department, $25,342.
Greeley Volunteer Fire Department, $11,094.
Greene Dreher Volunteer Fire Association, $23,151.
Hawley Fire Department, Inc., $23,151.
Hemlock Farms Fire & Rescue, $23,288.
Matamoras Fire Department, Inc., $22,877.
Promised Land Volunteer Fire and Ambulance, $22,740.
Shohola Township Volunteer Fire & Rescue Inc., $23,288.
Westfall Township Volunteer Fire Department, $25,068.
Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance, $15,048.
Dingman Township Volunteer Fire Department, $13,210.
Lackawaxen EMS, $15,048.
Milford Fire Department, $11,190.
Promised Land Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Association, $15,048.

Susquehanna County, $214,852:
Forest City Area Emergency Services, $25,094.
Great Bend Hose Company No.1, $23,288.
Hallstead Fire Engine and Hose Company No. 1, $23,288.
Harford Volunteer Fire Company, $23,836.
Meshoppen Volunteer Fire Department, $25,068.
Snake Creek Volunteer Fire Company, $22,603.
Susquehanna Fire Department, Inc., $23,425.
Thompson Hose Company, Inc., $23,836.
Union Dale Volunteer Fire Company, $23,014.
Forest City Area Emergency Services, $15,048.
Meshoppen Volunteer Fire Department EMS, $12,876.
Montrose Minute Men, Inc., $15,048.
Susquehanna Fire Department, Inc., $15,048.
Thompson Hose Company, Inc., $15,048.

Wayne County, $401,878:
Alert Hook and Ladder Company No. 2, $23,562.
Equinunk Volunteer Fire Company, $22,877.
Hamlin Fire & Rescue Company, $23,151.
Hose Company No. 1, $24,110.
Lake Ariel Fire Company, $23,699.
Lakeville Volunteer Fire Company, $23,288.
Maplewood Fire and Rescue Company, $24,247.
Northern Wayne Fire Company, Inc., $59,842.
Pleasant Mount Emergency Services, Inc., $22,877.
Prompton Fire & Rescue Unit , $22,877.
Protection Engine Company No. 3, $22,877.
Seelyville Fire Company, $11,094.
Texas No. 4 Fire Company, $24,247.
Waymart Volunteer Fire Company, $24,384.
Welcome Lake Fire and Rescue, Inc., $22,603.
White Mills Fire Department, $11,094.
Gouldsboro Ambulance Squad, Inc., $15,048.

The purpose of this grant is to provide some much-needed financial assistance to first responders who have found it difficult to keep their operations running due to COVID-19. As stated in Act 26, the money must be used for operational and equipment expenses, or to replace lost revenue due to pandemic restrictions.

For additional information, click here.

Representative Rosemary M. Brown
189th District
Representative Jonathan Fritz
111th District
Representative Mike Peifer
139th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Abby Krueger
717.260.6617
akrueger@pahousegop.com
RepBrown.com | RepFritz.com | RepPeifer.com