State grants will help Alle-Kiski fire companies pay debts, buy equipment

More than 60 Alle-Kiski Valley fire and ambulance companies were recently awarded more than $775,000 through the annual state Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program.

Some of the companies plan to use the money to pay down what they owe on new fire trucks. Others will buy protective clothing and similar items.

Allegheny Valley Volunteer Fire Company and EMS will use its $23,000 state grant to pay down what it owes on its multipurpose fire engine and rescue pumper. After using the grant money, the company will owe about $76,000 on the truck. Allegheny Valley volunteers purchased the multipurpose truck in 2017 for about $520,000.

“We use it a lot on Route 28 and the turnpike,” Chief Kevin Funkhouser said.

West Deer Fire Company No. 3 will use its $14,200 grant to pay down what it owes on the department’s ladder truck.

“We owe about $125,000 now of the original $900,000 purchase,” Chief Josh Wiegand said.

At least two companies will use the money to buy equipment.

Citizens Volunteer Hose Company and its emergency services company received a combined $23,400 to buy protective clothing and portable radios and pagers, Chief Sean Jones said.

“The EMS unit wants to buy an automatic chest compression machine,” he said.

Lower Valley Ambulance Company used its grant last year to purchase that same type of machine, Lower Valley’s Dan Copeland said. This year, the department will buy a scoop stretcher to help rescue workers lift patients while keeping injuries immobilized.