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The City of Warren Fire Department has been awarded a $100,000 grant through the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner’s Municipal Fire Department Capital Grant Program to help fund a generator replacement project that will improve emergency operations during power outages.
The grant, announced as part of the Shapiro administration’s latest round of municipal fire department and emergency services training center funding, is the maximum amount available through the competitive program.
The statewide initiative distributed $900,000 to departments and training centers for capital improvement projects, including facility upgrades and emergency equipment purchases.
In Warren, the funding will be used toward replacing the fire station’s nearly 50-year-old generator and installing a new generator capable of serving both the fire station and the neighboring municipal building.
According to Chief Dave Krogler, the current generator at the fire station dates back to when the building was constructed in the late 1970s.
"It’s reaching its end of life, ” Krogler said.
The generator serving the city building is also undersized and cannot provide backup power to all of the systems needed during an outage.
City officials have been developing plans for a new generator system that will supply emergency power to both facilities. Because the total project cost exceeds the grant award, the state funding will cover only a portion of the expense.
The department expects installation to take place early next year, as the grant includes a one-year timeline, although an extension could be requested if needed.
Krogler said the project will strengthen the city’s ability to maintain emergency services during severe weather and other power interruptions.
“This project will help secure electrical service for the fire station and the city building so emergency services can continue during storms or power outages,” Krogler said.
The city's municipal building houses the Warren Police Department and serves as an emergency management center, making reliable backup power essential during emergencies.
The generator project is the latest in a series of state-funded improvements for the department. The city has received grants through the same program over the past three years, including funding to renovate the station’s restrooms and dormitories to provide greater privacy and make the facilities more accommodating for both male and female firefighters.
Krogler said capital improvement grants help municipalities address costly infrastructure needs while preserving local funding for emergency response equipment and other operational expenses.
“Grants like this allow municipalities to update their capital assets,” Krogler said. “That frees up more money for response equipment instead of having to spend it on major building improvements.”
The Municipal Fire Department Capital Grant Program provides up to $100,000 per recipient to support projects such as facility modernization, building acquisition or renovation, and the purchase or repair of essential emergency equipment.