$200K In Grants Awarded To 2 Bristol Twp. Fire Departments

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, PA —Two township fire departments are receiving $200,000 in grants to enhance fire coverage.

The grants come courtesy of U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick and will be doled out to the Newportville Fire Company #1 and the Edgely Fire Company.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grants are from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help the two fire departments enhance response capabilities and more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel from fire and other related hazards.

The Newportville Fire Company #1 received $20,952.38.

Meanwhile, the Edgely Fire Company is getting $185,454.54, which will be disbursed as a regional grant for fire departments in Bristol and Falls townships, and Morrisville Borough.

The grants will be used for operation and safety through the AFG Program.

The purpose of the AFG Program is to award grants directly to fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical services (EMS) organizations, and State Fire Training Academies to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel.

Using a competitive process that is informed by fire service subject matter experts, grants are awarded to eligible applicants whose applications best address the priorities of the AFG Program. Since FY 2001, the AFG Program has awarded approximately $8.1 billion in grants to provide critically needed resources. The total amount appropriated for the FY 2022 AFG Program initiative is $324 million.

“For the last several decades, fire departments across the Commonwealth and nation have been hindered in their ability to find volunteers and to raise the necessary funds to maintain the indispensable services that their departments provide,” Fitzpatrick said. “The residents of Bristol Township and surrounding communities will directly benefit from these essential grants that do so much to keep our communities safe. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus and a certified EMT, I am proud to see the AFG grant program directly benefiting our local fire departments.”

Currently, FEMA is on Round 5 of the competitive FY 2022 AFG announcements and will continue to announce AFG grants on a weekly basis.

The program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.