A bill supporting fair funding for merging firehouses passed the Pennsylvania House this week.
On Thursday, Rep. Jerry Knowles (R-Berks/Carbon/Schuylkill) applauded unanimous House passage of his bill to ensure fire companies that choose to merge will continue to receive fair funding through the state’s Fire and EMS Grant Program.
“This important legislation will assist our volunteer fire companies who work so hard to protect our communities," said Knowles. “Many often forget the sacrifices and bravery it takes to be a first responder, so we must do everything we can as a Legislature to support these men and women.”
Under current law, fire companies that merge each receive their own state grant allocations for a period of up to 10 years.
After that, they are treated as a single entity by the program.