Published: March 18, 2009 11:25 pm      

4 federal grants will assist firefighters

Four area volunteer fire companies have received federal grants from the Department of Homeland Security.

Cover Hill Volunteer Fire Company will use its $17,847 grant toward the purchase of 1,700 feet of 5-inch hose and 1,900 feet of 13/4-inch hose along with five nozzles and related equipment, said Assistant Chief Brian Partsch.

Seward Volunteer Fire Company in Westmoreland County received a $22,743 grant. Chief Dennis Rudnik said the money will go toward the purchase of new turnout gear, a thermal imaging camera and two portable radios that will match frequencies used by fire companies in neighboring Cambria County.

He said his company and those in Cambria assist each other in accidents on Route 56 (Haws Pike), so the need to communicate is important.

Addison Volunteer Fire Company in southern Somerset County will use its $20,260 grant to purchase 13 personally fitted air masks for members who are certified as Firefighter I and Firefighter II and voice amplifiers for the new masks plus the other eight the company owns, said Chief Gary Compton.

The grant also will go toward the purchase of various training DVDs and a laptop computer and projection screen to present the training films.

Black Lick Volunteer Fire Company in Indiana County will use its $36,269 grant to purchase two thermal imaging cameras, two automatic external defibrillators, two rescue saws and rope-rescue equipment, said Chief Tim Stipcak.