Warren County is certainly not the only community in the country that is currently in the midst of a crisis when it comes to a growing shortage of Emergency Services personnel. In addition to declining populations in rural areas and a lack of new volunteers, funding is often hard to come by.

But there’s some good news today.

According to a press release from Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Rep. Kathy Rapp announced that 39 fire departments and ambulance organizations throughout Crawford, Forest and Warren counties have been awarded approximately $407,220 from a grant program administered by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.

“Our fire and EMS personnel risk their lives daily to ensure the safety of our communities,” said Rapp. “I am pleased to see so many fire and ambulance companies are taking advantage of this state grant program in order to remain viable in future years.”

Following is a list of fire and ambulance companies serving Warren and Forest counties and the amount of their grant awards:

Warren County

Bear Lake Volunteer Fire Department, $11,509.

Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department, $11,509.

City of Warren Fire Department, $14,111.

City of Warren Fire Department EMS, $9,192.

Columbus Volunteer Fire Department, $11,920.

Garland Volunteer Fire Department, $11,509.

Grand Valley Volunteer Fire Department, $11,646.

Grand Valley Volunteer Fire Department EMS, $9,192.

Lander Volunteer Fire Department, $11,509.

North Warren Volunteer Fire Department, $12,604.

Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department, $11,783.

Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department EMS, $9,192.

Russell Volunteer Fire Department, $11,783.

Russell Volunteer Fire Department EMS, $9,192.

Scandia Volunteer Fire Department, $11,920.

Scandia Volunteer Fire Department EMS, $9,192.

Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department, $11,646.

Sheffield Ambulance Service, $6,711.

Spring Creek Volunteer Fire Department, $11,783.

Starbrick Volunteer Fire Department, $11,509.

Sugar Grove Volunteer Fire Department, $11,509.

Sugar Grove Volunteer Fire Department EMS, $9,192.

Tidioute Volunteer Fire Department, $11,509.

Tidioute Volunteer Fire Department EMS, $9,192.

Wrightsville Volunteer Fire Department, $12,057.

Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department, $11,509.

Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department EMS, $9,192.

Forest County

Tionesta Ambulance Service, $5,369.

Tionesta Volunteer Fire Department, $12,331.

West Hickory Volunteer Fire Department, $11,646.

All funding comes from the proceeds from slot machine gaming, and not general fund tax revenue. Projects eligible for funding include construction or renovation of a fire or ambulance company facility, purchase or repair of equipment, training, or debt reduction.