Several fire companies and ambulance squads in the New Hope area are among 2,500 agencies statewide receiving grant funding through the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner.
The grants are part of the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program and will help fund equipment purchases, training, facility upgrades, and other operational costs.
• New Hope Eagle Fire Company – $13,735
• Point Pleasant Fire Company – $13,309.52
• Midway Volunteer Fire Company – $16,322.02
• Central Bucks Emergency Medical Services – $15,000
“Our firefighters and EMS personnel selflessly dedicate themselves to keeping our communities safe, often with limited resources,” said State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook. “This funding is a testament to the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to ensuring that fire companies and EMS agencies—both career and volunteer—have the tools they need to do their jobs effectively and safely.”
Bucks County has more than 60 volunteer fire departments and a growing number that use paid departments, according to the Bucks County Planning Commission’s 2019 report, “The Future of Bucks County’s Fire Services.” The report estimated there were just over 1,200 volunteer firefighters in the county at that time.
With volunteer fire companies facing staffing challenges, Cook said Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2025-2026 budget includes an additional $30 million in grants for fire companies and a pilot program to assist companies that collaborate.
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