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Fire departments receive grants, loans for vehicles

Three Cambria County volunteer fire departments will receive grants and low-interest loans, allowing them to purchase new vehicles to better serve their coverage areas, local politicians confirmed.

State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Johnstown, recently announced that Cresson Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $129,000 low-interest loan from the State Fire Commissioner’s Office.

Fire department President Dave Fulton said the funds will be used to purchase a new pumper truck to replace a vehicle built in 1990.

“We were unable to acquire a lot of parts for it,” Fulton said of the aging vehicle. “We actually had to have the garage that was repairing it go to a salvage yard.”

The old vehicle was deemed unsafe and does not meet a number of regulations, Fulton said.

The cost of the new truck will be covered by the loan, as well as a previously received Federal Assistance to Firefighter grant in the amount of $452,581, Fulton said.

The new truck, a 2018 KME Predator with a 1,000-gallon tank and 2,000-gallon-per-minute pump, is expected to be in use no later than Nov. 6, though it is likely to be in operation by October, he said.

The grant will be awarded as long as fire department officials submit proper documentation, Burns said in a statement. Fulton said officials are already taking steps to do so.

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-9th District, announced that two other Cambria County fire departments will receive funds.

Northern Cambria’s Hope Volunteer Fire Department and Ashville Volunteer Fire Department were awarded nearly $800,000 in U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighter grants, Shuster announced.

Ashville has been awarded $476,191 to purchase a new multipurpose combination vehicle to replace two pieces of aging equipment — a 1987 tanker and 1997 engine.

“While planning for the department, we realized with or without a grant both vehicles would have to be replaced. … This vehicle should be able to be put to good use for at least the next two decades,” Ashville Fire Chief Joe Racz said in a statement.

Hope is to receive $309,524, which will be used to purchase a new tanker.

“This grant comes at a very good time for the department,” Hope treasurer Matt Barczak said. “We’re fortunate to keep growing as a department, and … thanks to this grant we will be better able to serve the community and our growing coverage area.”

Mirror Staff Writer Sean Sauro is at 946-7535.

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