SHAVERTOWN — Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook visited the Shavertown Fire Company on Tuesday to talk about how the 2024-25 budget plan would raise the Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Grant Program to $60 million, which is twice the current amount.
Cook stated that the increased funding, pending approval from the state legislature, would help communities’ crucial first responders recruit more people, update old safety equipment, and provide extra training.
The Fire Commissioner emphasized the necessity of the increased funding for the safety of communities, urging legislators and community leaders to support the proposal.
Cook explained that the Governor’s proposal seeks to double the funding to $60 million from the current $30 million that the program receives.
He added that the grant is available to fire, EMS, and volunteer rescue squad organizations across the Commonwealth, covering various allowable expenses including ambulance and fire truck purchases or repairs, firefighting and medical gear and tools, training materials and certifications, recruitment and retention materials, building construction and upgrades, and debt reduction.
Cook stated that the additional investments in the Office of the State Fire Commissioner’s (OSFC) Fire and EMS Grant Program would support the work of the Commonwealth's first responders, helping them meet the increasing costs of public safety.
Cook shared that he spent the past year traveling across the state, meeting with the men and women of the fire and EMS communities.
He noted the common challenges faced by fire and EMS companies, expressing that they struggle due to inadequate resources, outdated trucks, lack of necessary equipment, and insufficient funding for recruitment and retention efforts despite the increasing number of calls they respond to.
Cook and other fire chiefs from Luzerne County communities agreed that fire companies are seeing fewer volunteers while emergency calls are on the rise.
According to Cook, volunteer fire and EMS personnel in Pennsylvania save the state more than $88 billion yearly.
“And costs are not going down,” Cook said, standing in front of a ladder truck in the future new home of the Shavertown Fire Company, 149 N. Main St., Shavertown. “A new ladder truck can cost upwards of $2 million dollars. And that’s just for one truck. Fire Departments like Shavertown and others throughout Luzerne County rely on OSFC grant funding to pay for equipment, renovations, necessary protective gear and more. The current grant program limits the amount a single fire company can receive to just $20,000.”
Cook mentioned that recent cost increases are affecting not only the fire services but also EMS providers, highlighting the considerable expense of an ambulance stretcher system, which has risen sharply in recent years. Under the current grant program, the maximum amount that a single EMS company can receive is $15,000.
Cook said that Governor Shapiro's budget plan to double the fire and EMS grant funding from $30 million to $60 million is a big step in supporting the state's first responders. He added that the increased funding will directly help fire and EMS organizations in serving their communities better.
Shavertown Fire Company President and Deputy Chief Ryan Moss shared how the grant program's funds have been crucial in paying off debt for the purchase of a former car repair shop, which they are currently turning into their new fire station.
Moss explained that the volunteer fire company currently operates out of a 60-year-old building that is too small for modern fire trucks. He mentioned that it will cost about $2 million to renovate the building, and the fire company aims to raise much of the money through fundraising events. He estimates that the project could take two more years to finish.
Moss mentioned that the proposed increase in grant funding will help accelerate the transformation of the repair shop into a fire station, which will serve the community for many years to come.
Dr. Wendy Braund, Deputy Secretary for Health Preparedness and Community Protection at the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), joined Cook at the news conference in Shavertown.
Braund emphasized the importance of the increase in grant funding, along with Governor Shapiro's allocation of $1 million for EMS tuition reimbursement, in providing crucial support for fire and EMS professionals who risk their lives every time they are called to duty. She stated that they deserve career support and educational opportunities to advance their knowledge and experience.
Cook and Braund highlighted the Shapiro Administration's focus on creating safer communities through investments in first responders.
Braund mentioned that Governor Shapiro understands firsthand that first responders are at the forefront of keeping their communities safe. She stated that his 2024-25 budget proposal demonstrates a continued investment in equipment, training, and staffing needs so fire and EMS organizations can fulfill that role.
