Congressman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) recently announced that two Pennsylvania firefighting units received more than $230,000 in grants from the Department of Homeland Security.
Shuster made the separate grant announcements on Wednesday.
The Farmington Volunteer Fire Department received a grant from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program in the amount of $115,235. The funds will be used to buy 35 portable and mobile radios, enough to replace every radio throughout the department.
“Had we not received this grant we could have never done this because of the expense,” Brian VanSickle, the fire chief of the Farmington Volunteer Fire Department said. “We are very thankful for this grant program and for Congressman Shuster being a strong proponent of it. We want to thank the Congressman for this grant and all the work he does in the district for us.”
Shuster’s announcement on Wednesday also included an award from AFG to the Phoenix Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 1 in Hollidaysburg in the amount of $118,750. The money will go toward the purchase of an in-house cascade/compressor system for breathing apparatuses and all new hydraulic rescue equipment, including cutters, spreaders and other tools used for cases of entrapment.
Shuster said the funding will allow the Phoenix Fire Department to replace equipment that is more than 30 years old.