Aug. 09, 2019
HARRISBURG – Porters Community Fire Company in Heidelberg Township and Union Fire and Hose Company No. 1 in Dover are among more than 130 fire companies across Pennsylvania to receive wildfire fighting grants, according to state Reps. Seth Grove (R-Dover) and Kate Klunk (R-Hanover). Porters was awarded a $4,000 grant while the Union Fire and Hose grant is for $2,000.
“These grants were announced in conjunction with the 75th ‘birthday’ of Smokey Bear, who began telling us ‘Only you can prevent forest fires’ on Aug. 9, 1944,” Grove said. “Volunteer fire fighters put their lives on the line daily, and these grants will assist their efforts, particularly during a time of year when dry weather makes rural areas more prone to wildfires.”
The grants are funded through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and total more than $617,000. The money has played a role in helping to reduce the average number of acres burned annually in wildfires from 22 million in 1944 to an average of 6.7 million today.
“We need to do all we can to support our local volunteer fire companies, who can’t survive on carnivals and chicken dinners alone,” added Klunk. “This is just one more way we can say thank you to the men and women who are there for us in our time of need.”
Representative Seth Grove
196th District
Representative Kate Klunk
169th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com