Petrarca announces nearly $318,000 in fire and EMS state grants

Rep. Joseph A. Petrarca January 22, 2026 | 10:01 AM

HARRISBURG, Jan. 22 -- State Rep. Joseph Petrarca, D-Westmoreland/Armstrong/Indiana, announced a total of 24 fire and emergency medical services companies are slated to receive state grants totaling $317,598.

“We rely on our local firefighters and emergency services personnel to respond quickly to dangerous situations, including fires, accidents and other events, on a daily basis,” Petrarca said. “These grants can be helpful in paying for training, purchasing needed equipment, and for construction or repairs to their facilities.”

Petrarca said the grants are as follows:

Armstrong County

• Apollo Volunteer Fire Department Hose Company No.2 -- fire company - $11,783.
• Apollo Volunteer Fire Department Hose Company No. 3 -- fire company - $11,783.
• Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company -- fire company - $11,509.
• Lower Kiski Ambulance Service Inc -- EMS - $9,192.
• Parks Township Volunteer Fire Department -- fire company - $11,646.

Indiana County

• Saltsburg Volunteer Fire Department -- fire company - $10,251.

Westmoreland

• Avonmore Volunteer Fire Department -- fire company - $11,509.
• Bell Township Volunteer Fire Department -- fire company - $11,920.
• Derry Volunteer Fire Department – fire company - $11,509.
• Derry Township Volunteer Fire Department #1 of Bradenville -- fire company - $12,194.
• Hyde Park Volunteer Fire Department -- fire company - $12,878.
• Latrobe - Good Will Hose Co. No. 1 -- fire company - $11,509.
• Latrobe - Hook & Ladder Co. 2 LVFD -- fire company - $11,783.
• Latrobe - Freewill Volunteer Hose Company No. 3 & 4 -- fire company - $11,509.
• Latrobe - Good Friends Hose Company No. 5 -- fire company - $11,509.
• Latrobe - Free Service Fire Unit Number 6 -- fire company - $11,646.
• Lloydsville Volunteer Fire Department -- fire company - $14,248.
• New Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department -- fire company - $11,646.
• Oklahoma Volunteer Fire Department 1 -- $9,192 for EMS, $12,467 for fire company.
• Vandergrift George G. McMurtry No. 1 Fire Department -- fire company - $13,700.
• Vandergrift Fire Department No. 2 -- $ 9,192 for EMS, $11,509 for fire company.
• Washington Township Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 of Westmoreland County -- fire company - $13,700.
• West Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company -- fire company - $11,783.
• Whitney Hostetter Volunteer Fire Department -- fire company - $11,783.
• Youngstown Volunteer Department and Relief Association -- fire company - $14,248.

The grants are funded by Pennsylvania’s Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program, administered by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. In addition to funding equipment and training, the money can be used for repairing, building or renovating facilities and for repaying debt related to equipment purchases or facility building and maintenance.

Petrarca noted that recipients must visit the OSFC grant link and complete and return the original signed copies of their grant agreements to the OSFC office as soon as possible in order to process their grant and to receive funds.

For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.osfc.pa.gov/GrantsandLoans/Volunteer%20Fire%20Company%20And%20Ambulance%20Grants/Pages/default.aspx.