Fire departments receive state grants

Nov. 24--It costs at least $10,000 to outfit a firefighter.

"A self-contained breathing apparatus runs almost $7,000; a coat and pair of pants is roughly $2,400; a helmet is another $250; gloves, $100; boots, $225 -- and, if you're looking at an air pack -- then it's a minimum of over $10,000," Archbald Fire Chief Bob Harvey said.

Archbald fire departments will receive $35,626.99 in state grants meant to help provide equipment and training to departments across the state. In addition to buying new equipment, Harvey said the department will use the money to purchase insurance and pay death benefits for firefighters.

All together, 2,518 municipalities will share $55.1 million in fire relief association funding, according to state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale. Lackawanna County fire departments shared nearly $626,000 of that.

"These funds will benefit communities statewide by helping to purchase lifesaving equipment, fund critical training and provide insurance," DePasquale said in a press release Tuesday. "This money is vital in helping volunteer firefighters who save lives and protect property."

Money allocated to the volunteer firefighters' relief associations helps departments meet the standards of proper equipment. And, depending on the firefighter, "especially those who wear it hard," equipment may need to be replaced every few years, Moosic Fire Chief Chuck Molinaro said.

"If your department is busy, gear isn't something that lasts too long," he said. "That money is something that comes every year, and we maintain a health and accident insurance policy for all of our firefighters in addition to purchasing protective gear, breathing apparatuses, things that provide a margin of safety to the firefighters."

Moosic's Fire Department will receive $33,835.66 this year.

Disbursements for paid fire departments will be announced soon, auditor general spokesman Gary Miller said.

Funding for the relief associations comes from a 2 percent state tax on fire insurance premiums purchased by Pennsylvania residents from out-of-state casualty insurance companies.

For an online report detailing the amount of state funding allocated to the volunteer firefighters' relief associations by county, visit www.PaAuditor.gov.

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Allocations

Lackawanna County fire relief association allocations for 2018:

Archbald, $35,626.99

Benton Twp., $10,376.78

Blakely, $30,946.12

Carbondale, $19,739.63

Carbondale Twp., $4,936.27

Clarks Green, $8,153.15

Clarks Summit, $28,196.78

Clifton Twp., $10,684.40

Covington Twp., $19,913.54

Dalton, $6,437.89

Dickson City, $36,090.88

Dunmore, $641.90

Elmhurst Twp., $4,155.28

Fell Twp., $9,746.27

Glenburn Twp., $7,802.83

Greenfield Twp., $11,493.59

Jefferson Twp., $9,430.88

Jermyn, $8,788.66

Jessup, $22,948.80

LaPlume Twp., $2,748.51

Madison Twp., $12,780.09

Mayfield, $7,984.52

Moosic, $33,835.66

Moscow, $10,511.81

Newton Twp., $15,745.05

North Abington Twp., $4,483.71

Old Forge, $37,720.26

Olyphant, $23,293.23

Ransom Twp., $7,268.31

Roaring Brook Twp., $11,369.64

Scott Twp., $25,897.26

South Abington Twp., $53,547.92

Spring Brook Twp., $13,447.95

Taylor, $28,476.17

Thornhurst Twp., $5,193.04

Throop, $18,877.21

Vandling, $3,174.98

Waverly Twp., $12,421.65

West Abington Twp., $1,624.81

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