Cranberry fire company seeks grant to expand training
The Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company is seeking a $100,000 grant from the Office of State Fire Commissioner to improve its training.
Township supervisors unanimously approved a motion Thursday, June 29, for the fire department to apply for an Emergency Service Training Center Capital Grant.
“We strive to provide great training opportunities” said Daniel Santoro, township manager, at the supervisors meeting. “We strive for well-trained volunteer firefighters here.”
The grant would be used to buy a simulator to teach firefighters about flash over conditions during a fire.
“We already have a burn building, we have a smoke tower and we have a burn pad,” Santoro said. “It’s just the next step and making sure that the firefighters, when they respond, are as well-trained as they can be. The repetition to be able to train in those kinds of environments allow them to be safe and effective firefighters.”
Grants are expected to be awarded late this year to early next year, according to Santoro.
Cranberry Township entered into an agreement to allow the Harmony Fire District to use a 2022 Ford F-150 belonging to Cranberry in certain circumstances.
"This is unique,“ Santoro said. ”It unique that our chief of fire and emergency services is our full-time chief (and he) is also the volunteer chief for the Harmony Fire District. In the fire services, you are provided a take home vehicle home so that you can respond after hours.“
Scott Garing, fire chief for both departments, was taking two vehicles home.
“As a community we said, ‘Didn’t it make sense to just share that vehicle?’” Santoro said. “We had just purchased a new vehicle and the Harmony Fire District folks were thinking about purchasing the vehicle.“
According to the agreement, which was approved unanimously by the supervisors, Cranberry Township will be responsible for all costs and expenses associated with the vehicle.
The Harmony Fire District will make an annual payment of $3,500 to Cranberry and be financially responsible for 30% of the prior year’s maintenance and operating expenses associated with the vehicle, including fuel, repairs, maintenance, insurance and inspection fees.
