Fire Department Gets $449K FEMA Grant: Lower Merion Twp.

ARDMORE, PA – The Lower Merion Fire Department is the recipient of a sizeable FEMA grant, which will allow them to keep further improve its emergency services to township residents.

According to the township, a FEMA Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant totaling $449,000 was awarded to the fire endearment to be used among its companies.

The money will allow the department to offer $50,000 in college tuition reimbursements to volunteer firefighters each year. Additional grant monies totaling $62,350 annually will help the department recruit and retain volunteer firefighters in Lower Merion Township and Narberth Borough through marketing efforts.

The funds will be allocated over four-year period.

SAFER grants were created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, “front line” firefighters available in their communities. The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the National Fire Protection Association.

Companies in the Lower Merion Fire Department are:

• Belmont Hills Fire Company;
• Bryn Mawr Fire Company;
• Gladwyne Fire Company
• Merion Fire Company of Ardmore;
• Penn Wynne/Overbrook Hills Fire Company;
• and the Union Fire Association of Lower Merion (Bala Cynwyd/Merion).

In addition, the Narberth Fire Company covers the Borough of Narberth and a large district in Lower Merion, according to the township.

Together, these seven fire companies make up the Lower Merion Fire Department, a combination fire service staffed by more than 200 active volunteer firefighters and officers, supplemented by a small number of full-time personnel.

Congratulations to our fire department members!

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