HARRISBURG PA – The NorCo Fire Company in North Coventry Township has been named the winner of a $12,500 Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant for training and equipment purchases directly related to fighting brush and forest fires, the agency and Gov. Tom Wolf announced. NorCo was the only recipient in Chester County, and five others received funding in Berks County.

The grants were awarded to qualifying local firefighting forces in rural areas and communities with fewer than 10,000 people. “Ensuring we have well-equipped and highly trained wildfire fighters is key in protecting our forests and wilds from wildfires, whether they are human-caused and naturally occurring,” department Deputy Secretary John Norbeck said.

Priority was placed on projects that include the purchase of wildfire suppression equipment and protective clothing. Grants may also be used for purchasing mobile or portable radios, installing dry hydrants, wildfire prevention and mitigation work, training wildfire fighters, or converting and maintaining federal excess vehicles for fire suppression.

Grants were awarded on a cost-sharing basis, with $12,500 the maximum grant awarded in 2022. The wildfire grants help enable smaller companies to concentrate more on public safety and training while easing their fiscal constraints. During the presentation, officials thanked volunteer fire companies statewide for their service to communities close to home.