Cambria County, PA, Fire Departments Get Piece of Federal Funding Pie

Mar. 14—JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Groundbreaking ceremonies could be held later this year on a new Hope Volunteer Fire Company station in Northern Cambria, thanks to funding included in legislation that was signed into law Friday by President Joe Biden.

"We are going to build a new fire station and public safety building across from our current building," Hope treasurer Matt Barczak said on Wednesday.

"This facility will ensure there will be a fire department here for the next 100 years and beyond."

The Hope Fire Company is one of three Cambria County fire companies, along with the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, slated to receive earmarked funds under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, U.S. Rep. John Joyce, R- Blair, announced Wednesday.

Spangler Fire Department, also in Northern Cambria Borough, will receive $1,996,000 for station improvements; Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department is getting $1.5 million for station construction; and the airport will receive $4,005,000 to construct aircraft hangars.

The legislation was among six bills Biden signed that avoided a government shutdown through the end of the budget year.

Jackson Township's fire station on Adams Avenue at Vinco is also up for replacement, department President Stephen Yarina said, noting the current station was built in 1943 and has been enlarged at least six times over the decades.

"The equipment keeps getting bigger," he said. "The cement floor is cracking under the weight of the vehicles. We have outgrown our functionality."

The new station will include a decontamination area for firefighters returning from calls involving hazardous materials and living quarters for emergency responders with the department's ambulance service.

Hope's current fire station will be built on a vacant lot the fire company owns on Philadelphia Avenue, Barczak said.

It will replace the station built in 1909.

Both Barczak and Yarina said the federal earmark is a major part of the project funding, giving credit to Joyce, along with Democratic U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Bob Casey for supporting the projects. Both also gave credit to state legislators for additional funding.

"This project is a perfect example of collaboration because it includes private funding, federal funding, state funding, county funding and local funding," Barczak said.

"The public support has been overwhelming."

Airport Manager Cory Cree said the airport authority has plans for new hangars in several locations on the airfield and the funding will move those projects along.

Spangler fire Chief Jay Nagle said he could not discuss the allocation until the fire company received official notice.

"We have not been notified of anything," Nagle said.

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