Pennsylvania has introduced a unique grant program for Fire and EMS services within counties near gas wells.
Acting State Fire Commissioner Charles McGarvey announced on Monday, August 22, that the application period for the 2022 Act 13 Unconventional Gas Well Fund (UGWF) grant program has opened.
“Grant programs like these are an integral part of how we fund the fire service in the commonwealth,” McGarvey said. “Departments are struggling with a variety of impacts from declining volunteer rates, increased costs, and fewer public donations. We want to ensure qualified departments access this much-needed state support as quickly as possible.”
Fire companies, rescue companies, and emergency medical services throughout the 40 counties where unconventional gas wells are located, or counties that directly border those counties, are eligible to apply for the grants.
Eligible projects under the 2022 UGWF Grant Program include developing, delivering, and sustaining training, professional certification, or acquiring specialized equipment for emergency responses relating to natural gas production from unconventional gas wells.
Eligible projects include:
- Obtaining professional national certification of members.
- Purchase firefighting, emergency medical, rescue, or air monitoring equipment used at or related to an unconventional gas well pad incident on or related to an unconventional gas well pad. All equipment purchased through the Program will also include training on the equipment provided by the PSFA at no additional cost to the grant recipient(s)
- Training classes and required educational materials to prepare for incidents at an unconventional gas well pad or related to the unconventional gas industry
The online application period begins Monday, August 22, 2022. It will remain open until Friday, October 21, 2022, at 4 p.m. Detailed information about the program and instructions on how to apply is available online at www.OSFC.pa.gov.
