Emergency responders poised to upgrade equipment via federal grant money

Volunteer fire companies and EMS organizations across Southwestern Pennsylvania continue to benefit from federal grants targeted at local emergency responders.

Since 2001, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Department of Homeland Security has doled out more than 1,800 Assistance to Firefighters Grants across the country, totaling nearly $323 million.

The most recent grants are geared toward helping first responders fund much-needed safety equipment upgrades and training for their members.

One such grant, to the Bell Township Volunteer Fire Department, was nearly $110,000. The money will pay to replace the company’s outdated radio communications equipment.

Bell Township firefighters have been relying on a radio system that is more than 20 years old. The grant will finance the replacement of 15 portable radios, four truck radios and the station’s base radio.

“It means everything, getting this grant,” said Cody Auden, fire company president. “Communication on the fire ground is everything, and this is going to help us keep our guys safe and keep everyone safe.”

Bell Township Fire Chief Steve Master said the new radios are long overdue. With the current radios, all calls must be dispatched through Westmoreland County, he said.

“Any time we go outside the county, we have to get patched through and it’s a time issue,” Master said. “It can save minutes in communications.”

Rescue Capt. Parker Headrick said there are some big issues with having to be patched in by the county.

“Westmoreland County will give us a channel, then they patch it over through 911, but sometimes another municipality will take priority over us, so that can be a big issue,” Headrick said.

Another issue with the existing radio equipment is that repairs have become more difficult and costly, as parts are harder to find, Auden said.

Bell Township has about 30 firefighters on its roster.

The grant’s conditions require the department to contribute nonfederal funds of at least 5% of the award (almost $5,500) for the total approved budget of just under $155,500.

Grant recipients are expected to submit a performance report every six months, including milestones achieved, timeline on bids and anticipated delivery dates of approved items.

The fire company still is weighing its options on which type of radios to purchase, but delivery is expected to occur this year.

Hyde Park Volunteer Fire Department Company also will replace its outdated radio system using grant money totaling nearly $56,000, said Hyde Park fire Chief John Corna.

Like Bell Township, Hyde Park’s current base radio and portable communication devices are more than 20 years old.

“For us, it’s a major expense to replace communications equipment,” Corna said. “Our current equipment is discontinued, so it became a priority to replace them.”

Hyde Park ordered a Motorola 800 system that is scheduled for delivery in early December. The new system will be compatible to the frequency used by Westmoreland County.

Assistant Chief Nathan Baker volunteered to write the grant.

“The last four FEMA grants were written by him. I want to credit him with doing all the work,” Corna said.

Hyde Park has 22 volunteer firefighters.

Mike Yonas, Blawnox-Glenover Volunteer Fire Company president and medical officer, described its FEMA grant of more than $41,000 as “transformative.”

The funds will be used to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus to replace the company’s expired equipment.

“These state and federal grants, and other fundraising efforts, provide support for the most critical safety and response equipment we need to remain compliant with federal safety standards to keep our volunteer men and women safe,” Yonas said. “It ensures we have the appropriate equipment to respond, save lives and protect property.”

Blawnox received an additional $163,000 in combined state grants that will allow for the purchase of updated dry suits, gloves and boots for their swift water rescue and response team and a new fire boat to replace a 30-year-old pontoon fire boat.

Jeannette EMS will use its FEMA grant of more than $70,000 to purchase 13 radios to outfit ambulances, paramedics, EMTs and the station on South Sixth Street, according to Randy Highlands, operations manager.

Like many other departments, the ambulance service’s current radios are aging, and making a bulk purchase to replace them would not have been financially possible without the grant.

“The biggest problem with the old radios is not being able to find replacement parts for them if one stops working,” Highlands said.

The upgraded technology will be an added bonus.

“The technology just advances so quickly,” he said.

Scottdale firefighters will get new self-contained breathing apparatus units with the department’s grant of almost $170,000, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page by Chief Dave Wendell.

The current units, which are worn on a person’s back and supply breathable air, date back 15 years.

The hefty sum of almost $645,000 awarded to Jeannette will be split among the city’s fire department and five others: Grapeville, Adamsburg, Irwin, Yukon and Forbes Road.

For Jeannette firefighters, the money is arriving just in time. Their current gear is 10 years old and at the end of its usable life, fire Chief Bill Frye said.

Frye said the money will be used to purchase turnout gear that blocks carcinogens.

Also, each station will get a gear washer and dryer for proper decontamination, he said.

Jeannette and Adamsburg firefighters have been working for the past three years to obtain funding for the gear, which has a new technology to prevent carcinogens from reaching those who are wearing it.

The funding also will provide money to purchase additional loose items such as gloves and boots.

Frye said he typically has enough money in the department’s budget to buy one set of new gear annually, so without the grant it would have been a difficult upgrade to make.

Murrysville Medic One Director Darrick Gerano said their grant of almost $144,000 will be used to replace mobile, portable and base radios.

“The current Motorola radios and software are outdated and need to be replaced to ensure communications with the dispatch centers and to maintain crew safety,” said Gerano, who was part of a Medic One group preparing on Monday afternoon to head South, in anticipation of supporting relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Ian.

Gerano said the grant will fund the lion’s share of the $158,000 cost to replace Medic One’s radio equipment.

Other fire companies

Additional fire companies receiving 2021 grants include South Buffalo ($782,857), Kittanning ($445,454), Pittsburgh ($280,000), Scottdale ($169,533), Rostraver No. 1 ($126,285), Penn Township ($115,242), West Deer ($95,238), Duquesne ($48,157), North Irwin ($40,747), Collinsburg of Rostraver ($39,928), Youngstown ($32,995), Smithton ($28,571), Butler ($26,204), McKeesport ($24,127) and Level Green ($15,885).

Joyce Hanz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joyce at jhanz@triblive.com or via Twitter @hanz_joyce. Staff writers Renatta Signorini and Patrick Varine contributed to this report.