Kanjorski Announces $220,500 for Summerhill Fire Company
Nearly $6 million in federal grants awarded to the 11^th District since FIRE program began

WASHINGTON - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) today announced that the Summerhill Fire Company has received a $220,500 grant for a new water pumper tanker.

The money is part of the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) grant program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"Our volunteer fire departments rely increasingly on money from fundraisers just to keep their operations running, so these federal grants are very important. We need to be willing to provide the money to the people who protect us - the first responders like our firefighters - who out there every day risking their own lives. We owe it to them and we owe it to their families to make sure they are well-equipped to do their jobs safely," Congressman Kanjorski said.

Fire Chief Richard Shultz said the current vehicle the Company has is nearly 20 years old and is not capable of backing up the fire engine at the scene of a fire.

"The pumper tanker that we're looking at will supply the engine with water and replace it at the scene because it can carry enough equipment on it to do so," Chief Shultz said.

Chief Shultz said at least 80 percent of the company's income is from fundraisers.  "With the cost of equipment and apparatuses going up every year, the chance of us saving up enough money to buy a truck on our own is slim to none," he said. "Some fire companies in our area have gotten rid of their tankers because of the cost."

The Summerhill Fire Company is an additional first responder when three other local fire companies are dispatched.

To date, 61 fire companies in the 11^th District have received FIRE grants.

President Bush's proposed 2005 budget would cut Homeland Security Department funding for firefighters. The President's first two budgets did not include FIRE grant funding, but Congress stepped up to ensure that the nation's firefighters were not shortchanged.

"Cutting funding for FIRE grants is unacceptable. These federal dollars are vital to the continuation of our fire stations and fire companies in Northeastern Pennsylvania as well as across the nation," Congressman Kanjorski said.

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