Blair, Bedford and Cambria county fire and EMS companies are among those from across the state receiving a portion of $29 million in grant funds, according to a news release from the Wolf administration.

Administered by the Office of State Fire Commissioner, the grants can be used for facility

upgrades, equipment, debt reduction, training, education and public outreach, recruitment and retention, and revenue loss due to COVID-19 impacts.

“Every day we depend upon our fire and EMS volunteers to answer the call and help us, which they do in a true spirit of community service,” said state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria.

In Blair County, AMED received $8,125, while Duncansville EMS and the Hollidaysburg American Legion Ambulance Service each received $8,325.

The Bald Eagle Volunteer Fire Company received $13,000, and the Martinsburg Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 received $14,966.

Blair County fire companies receiving a $15,000 grant include Blazing Arrow Hook and Ladder, Blue Knob, Altoona, Claysburg, Duncansville, Excelsior, Freedom Township, Geeseytown, Greenwood, Lakemont, Logan Township United, Neptune, Newburg, Pinecroft, Sinking Valley and Williamsburg.

The Chestnut Ridge Ambulance Association will receive $8,325, as will the EMS division of the Cumberland Valley Township Volunteer Fire Department, the Hyndman Area Rescue Squad, Raystown Ambulance Service, Southern Cove EMS and the EMS division of the Saxton Volunteer Fire Company, all in Bedford County.

The EMS division of the Six Mile Run fire company will receive $8,183.

Bedford County fire companies receiving $15,000 grants include Bedford, Breezewood, Cumberland Valley, Everett, Hyndman, Imler, Saxton, Shawnee Valley and Six Mile Run.

In Cambria County, the Blacklick Valley Foundation & Ambulance Service received $8,325, as did the ambulance companies of Conemaugh Valley Regional, East Hills, Ebensburg, Forest Hills, Hastings, Jackson Township, John Carroll, Patton, Portage, Upper Yoder, Veterans Memorial, West End and West Hills.

The EMS division of the Riverside Volunteer Fire Company will receive $3,305.

The Portage Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 will receive $30,000; the Riverside Volunteer Fire Company $10,765; Summerhill Borough Volunteer Fire Company $14,855; and the Summerhill Township Volunteer Fire Company $14,700.

Fire companies receiving $15,000 grants include Conemaugh, Cresson, Dale Borough, Dauntless, Franklin Borough, Gallitzin, Hastings, Hope, Jackson Township, Loretto, Lower Yoder, Middle Taylor, Nanty Glo, Nicktown, Oakland, Patton, Reade Township, Richland Township, Spangler, Upper Yoder and Vintondale.

The West Hills Regional Fire Department is slated to receive $45,000, the most in the region.