Press Releases

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) announced that $1.05 million in federal funds have been awarded to ten regional fire departments throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne and Monroe counties to purchase new equipment and bolster fire department safety through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program (AFG).

“Firefighters put themselves in harm's way every day to protect our neighborhoods and keep our families safe. These federal grants will provide them with the equipment and protective gear they need to further protect our communities,” said Congressman Cartwright, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “I will continue doing everything I can at the federal level to support our dedicated first responders and ensure they have the safety and emergency response equipment and capabilities they need.”

The $281,536 in AFG grants awarded to Lackawanna County includes:

Scranton Fire Department - $70,227 to purchase Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Air Compressor Fill Station

Taylor Fire and Rescue - $108,452 to purchase 15 Self-Containing Breathing Apparatus Units and five Face Pieces

Throop Volunteer Hose Company No. 3 - $102,857 to purchase 15 Self-Containing Breathing Apparatus Units

The $573,079 in AFG grants awarded to Luzerne County includes:

Freeland Fire Department - $215,045 to purchase 24 Self-Containing Breathing Apparatus and 14 Face Pieces

Mountain Top Hose Company No. 1 - $126,706 to purchase 14 Self-Containing Breathing Apparatus and eight Face Pieces

Nanticoke Glen Lyon-Alden Volunteer Hose Company - $121,403 to purchase 14 Self-Containing Breathing Apparatus, 26 Face Pieces, and two Rapid Intervention Team Packs with Portable Air Supply Systems

Pittston Township Volunteer Fire Department - $50,000 to purchase Self-Containing Breathing Apparatus Air Compressor/Fill Station

Plains Township Fire Department - $30,952 to purchase Protective Personal Equipment Gear Cleaning Equipment

Duryea Excelsior Hose Company No. 2 - $28,973 to purchase 10 Multi-mode Compliant Portable Radios

The $205,161 in AFG grants awarded Monroe County includes:

Pocono Summit Volunteer Hose Company - $205,161 to purchase 22 Self-Containing Breathing Apparatus and 28 Face Pieces    

The AFG program is administered by FEMA to ensure that local fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations have the resources and equipment they need to protect communities and emergency personnel from fires and other related hazards.

More information on the AFG program is available at FEMA.gov.