South West communities receive fire, EMS grants

Local fire and EMS companies have received grants from the annual Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program.

The program is open to volunteer and career fire companies, emergency medical services and rescue squads, according to the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, which oversees the grant applications.

The fire and EMS companies are appreciative of the help, particularly since fundraisers have been impacted by the pandemic.

“It means a lot to us and we use it to pay down debt and buy essential equipment for the trucks and our men,” said Joe Janocha, chief of South Fayette VFD in Cuddy.

Carnegie Volunteer Fire and Rescue Bureau applies for this grant on a yearly basis. The organization said this year’s allotment is being used for training supplies, which will include mannequins, smoke machines and a forcible-entry training door.

They added that the items will be utilized to help volunteers prepare for future fire calls.

The breakdown of 2020-21 funds locally is as follows:

• Bower Hill Volunteer Fire Department in Scott Township, $13,480.96

• Carnegie Volunteer Fire and Rescue Bureau, $11,520.24

• Fairview Volunteer Fire Department in South Fayette, $12,054.98

• Glendale Hose Company #1 in Carnegie, $13,302.71

• Kirwan Heights Volunteer Fire Department, $12,233.23

• Kirwan Heights EMS, $6,745.70

• Oak Ridge Volunteer Fire Department in South Fayette, $11,698.48

• Presto Volunteer Fire Department, $14,372.20

• Rennerdale Volunteer Fire Department, $11,698.48

• Scott Township Emergency Medical Service, $8,993.20

• SouthBridge Volunteer Emergency Medical Service in Bridgeville, $8,993.20

• South Fayette Volunteer Fire Department, $12,767.97