Jan 20, 2020 1 min read

Ten volunteer fire companies and departments from Washington County were awarded a total of $105,000 in grants through a state grant program.

State officials announced the grants on Friday. The funds in the program, which come from slot gambling, are administered by the Pennsylvania Management Agency and the state fire commissioner’s office.

In Washington County, the West Alexander Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $12,057. The Hanover Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $11,920. The Claysville, Morris Township South Franklin departments were each awarded $11,783. The Amwell Township, Avella, and West Middletown departments, plus the West Finley and Taylorstown companies, were each awarded $11,509.

The office of Joshua Kail, R-Beaver, named the recipients and amounts in a press release.

“Every dollar dedicated to our fire and ambulance companies is critical as volunteers are fewer and fewer,” said Kail, whose district includes part of Washington County, in the release. “The funding helps to ensure that we have help when we need it, and I know how critical it is from personal experience,”

The office said another 10 departments in Beaver County were recipients of the state funds through the program.