13 fire, EMS departments in Butler County receive grant money
Thirteen fire and emergency services departments in Butler County have been awarded a combined $211,578 in grant money from the state of Pennsylvania.
The grant amounts were announced on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Fire and emergency programs in Butler County benefiting from grant money this year are Buffalo Township, Butler Township, East Butler, Herman, Oneida Valley, Sarver and Saxonburg volunteer fire companies; City of Butler Bureau of Fire; Chicora Community Hose and Relief Association and Butler Ambulance Service.
The highest grant amount went to Butler Township, which received $39,676.
The grant program is administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. Money from these programs can be used for construction on company facilities, purchase or repair of equipment, training or debt service.
“It's very important for the city of Butler, since we rely heavily on these grants to update equipment,” said Christopher Switala, fire chief for the City of Butler.
Chief Matt Cypher of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company said the grant is something his department applies for annually.
“It helps with the purchase of lifesaving gear and equipment,” Cypher said. “We're very fortunate to be able to get that grant and it helps to offset the cost of purchases.”
Switala said his department already has plans for the $15,246 it received. It looks to purchase “high-rise packs” that will enable firefighters to access fires on high floors if necessary.
“We're looking to be updating some nozzles for our hoses, and we're looking to purchase a new fire hose and new ‘high-rise packs,’” Switala said. “We're going to be making high-rise packs that are going to be more easily-deployed when we have these situations.”
Nine fire and emergency service departments in Mercer County also received grants.
