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Several fire departments and companies were notified they are recipients of state grants for rural communities to increase protection from wildfires and encourage fire safety in more rural communities.
The grants went to fire services in South Williamsport and Lairdsville in Lycoming County. Also grants were given to fire services in Clinton, Tioga and Potter counties. A full list is on the DCNR website.
In the Greater Williamsport region, Independent Fire Co. 1 in South Williamsport received $3,000 while Lairdsville Volunteer Fire Co. will get $11,480, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.
Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration awarded $883,143 in grants to help Pennsylvania's rural communities increase protection from wildfires, while encouraging fire safety across the Commonwealth, she said.
"Ensuring we have well-equipped and highly trained wildfire fighters is key in protecting our forests and wilds from wildfires, whether they are human-caused and naturally occurring," Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Adams Dunn said. "The best way we can show our gratitude to those who help fight brush and forest fires across the commonwealth is to practice fire safety in all situations, especially in October and November when wildfires are most common in Pennsylvania."
Both Dunn and State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook thanked volunteer fire companies for their service to communities close to home, as well as those members who often join DCNR's Bureau of Forestry crews battling wildfires far beyond Pennsylvania's borders. Several crews have been sent to western states to fight wildfires caused by hot, dry summer conditions, while also responding regularly to local woodland and brush fires. They noted the wildfire grants help enable smaller companies to concentrate more on public safety and training while easing their fiscal constraints.
"Each year, a variety of factors like drying vegetation, fewer natural windbreaks and now, scarce rain, come together to compound fire risks during wildfire season," Cook said. "It's easy to forget that the men and women that respond to these incidents are our neighbors, family members, and friends, and largely part of the same volunteer fire service that the commonwealth depends upon every day. Grant programs like these are essential financial pipelines, providing firefighters with the mission-critical training, equipment, and supplies needed to safely and successfully complete their missions."