Note: This story has been updated with additional information about grants that were received by Steel City and Dewey fire companies.
Many communities in the Saucon Valley and Southern Lehigh areas depend on volunteer fire companies for their protection, and those companies need financial support in order to continue to operate. A number of them received good news Monday in the form of grant awards that were announced by a local legislator.
A total of 15 fire and EMS organizations in the 131st state Legislative District–including one in Lower Saucon Township–have been awarded nearly $200,000 in funding through the Pennsylvania Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program, state Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh/Montgomery/
“Our first responders selflessly dedicate their time in service to our communities,” Simmons said in a news release about the grant awards. “These state funds will help to ensure they have the equipment and training necessary to continue the important work of protecting lives and property.”
Simmons said some of the projects or programs eligible for funding include the construction or renovation of a fire or ambulance company facility, the purchase or repair of equipment, training and the reduction of existing debt.
All of the grants are generated from slot machine gaming proceeds, and not General Fund tax revenue, according to the news release.
The following fire and ambulance organizations are grant recipients from within the 131st District:
Northampton County
- Se-Wy-Co Fire Company Inc. (Se-Wy-Co and Southeastern fire companies in Lower Saucon Township completed a merger to become Lower Saucon Fire Rescue in January) – $26,146
Lehigh County
- Citizens Fire Company of Upper Milford – $12,832
- Citizens Fire Company No. 1 Inc. – $11,678
- Coopersburg Fire Company No. 1 – $13,162
- Emmaus Borough Ambulance Corps. – $7,155
- Emmaus Fire Department – $14,811
- Lower Milford Township Fire Company 1 – $13,822
- Upper Milford Western District Fire Company – $12,832
- Upper Saucon Ambulance Corps – $7,155
- Upper Saucon Township Volunteer Fire Dept. No. 1 – $14,811
- Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company – $14,811
Montgomery County
- East Greenville Fire Company No. 1 – $13,492
- Pennsburg Fire Company No. 1 – $13,657
- Red Hill Fire Company – $13,822
- Upper Perkiomen Valley Ambulance Association – $7,155
Several other Saucon Valley fire and ambulance companies also received grant funding from the state, including:
- Dewey Fire Co. No. 1 & EMS (Hellertown) – $14,811.36 for the fire company and $7,155.22 for the ambulance company
- Steel City Volunteer Fire Company (Lower Saucon Township) – $13,162.04
