Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program

The Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program is administered by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner under the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The program is structured to support both volunteer and career fire departments, emergency medical services (EMS), and rescue squads operating throughout the state. Its primary purpose is to enhance operational readiness, support necessary infrastructure improvements, and bolster the recruitment and retention of essential personnel in Pennsylvania’s emergency response services. This grant is offered annually and represents a long-standing effort by the Commonwealth to ensure that local fire and EMS organizations are adequately funded to protect their communities. Eligible applicants for this grant include all fire companies, emergency medical services, and volunteer rescue squads within Pennsylvania. To maintain eligibility for both current and future grant cycles, organizations must report incidents monthly using the Pennsylvania Fire Incident Reporting System (PennFIRS). This requirement ensures transparency and continuous engagement with the state’s safety tracking mechanisms. Funding through this program supports a broad range of project types. Organizations may apply for up to two eligible projects per application, selected from categories including facility construction or renovation, equipment purchases or repairs, debt reduction related to facility or equipment costs, training and certification, public education on fire prevention, and recruitment and retention initiatives. Career departments have the unique option to request funding to cover overtime costs incurred while personnel attend training. Fire companies also have a specialized track called the Construction Savings Account, which allows them to apply for grants over a five-year period for the construction of new facilities, with funds held in a state-administered account. The application cycle generally opens in early September, with applications due approximately 45 days later. For the 2024–25 cycle, the application period opened on September 6 and closed on October 23. The Office of the State Fire Commissioner reviews all applications within 60 days following the deadline, with decisions expected around December 22. Successful applicants must return signed grant agreements by May 31. Additional documentation for new or merged companies must be submitted by August 1 to be eligible for the following year, and final project reports are due by September 1. To submit an application, organizations must use the Commonwealth’s online Egrants system, accessed via a Keystone ID login. Resources including webinars, instruction guides, and annual reports are available on the grant website to assist with the application process. The grant system requires creation or updating of profiles and association of existing applications where applicable. For assistance, applicants can contact the grant office directly via email. Although the source does not list specific contact names or phone numbers, it provides multiple PDF resources and online help links to facilitate the application process. No award amounts or program funding totals were listed in the source material. Similarly, the exact number of expected awards and any match funding requirements were not disclosed.