Norwin area fire, ambulance companies receive $210,000 in aid

Fire departments in North Huntingdon, Irwin and North Irwin were awarded almost $180,000 and ambulance services will receive about $30,000 in state grants to help compensate for revenue lost and expenses incurred during the covid-19 pandemic.

The money the state has allocated from the federal CARES Act program must be used for operational and equipment expenses, such as utilities, insurance, repairs to apparatus, fuel for vehicles, personal protective equipment and to compensate for the revenue lost due to government restrictions instituted to prevent the spread of covid-19. The money also can be used to pay for cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting of equipment and property or other expenses incurred to prevent the spread of the virus.

The money can be used for expenses beginning on March 6 and up until Dec. 30.

“These CARES Act grants can assist in supporting them and their ongoing efforts to keep their neighbors and communities protected and safe,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in a statement.

Of the $50 million in funding set aside for this new program, $44 million will be made available to fire and rescue companies and the remaining $6 million will go to EMS companies, the state said.

Norwin area fire departments receiving grants include:

• Circleville: $24,657

• Fairmont-Hahntown: $23,288

• Hartford Heights: $23,562

• Shafton: $11,094

• Strawpump: $24,931

• Westmoreland City: $23,700

• Irwin: $24,247

• North Irwin: $23,288

North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue will use the $15,048 it will receive to buy personal protective equipment for its personnel, said Shane Spielvogle, executive director of the EMS agency.

“We want to keep our personnel safe,” Spielvogle said.

The Irwin Volunteer Fire Department’s ambulance service was awarded $15,048.