By Laura French
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced on Thursday that $50 million in grants will be going toward fire and EMS agencies to help offset COVID-19 expenses.
The CARES Act grants can be used for operational and equipment expenses including but not limited to PPE, disinfecting expenses, apparatus repairs, utilities, insurance and lost revenue, according to the governor’s office.
The state will allocate $44 million to fire and rescue agencies and $6 million for EMS agencies. Expenses incurred on or after March 6 and before Dec. 30, 2020, are eligible to be reimbursed through the program.
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our office has remained open to provide the necessary resources that our fire service and EMS personnel need to fulfill a critical public safety role throughout the Commonwealth,” said state Fire Commissioner Bruce Trego, in a statement. “Departments have been exceptionally patient during this process, as our office has worked through changing federal guidance dictating how these dollars can be spent.”