Volunteer Fire Relief Funds Released

Auditor General Timonthy L. DeFoor announced Friday that more than $68 million in state aid to help dedicated volunteer firefighters across Pennsylvania has been released. The funding comes from a two percent state tax on fire insurance premiums purchased by Pennsylvania residents from out-of-state insurance companies and the total amount available varies from year to year. 

“This funding will help more than 1,850 volunteer firefighter relief associations in their day-to-day efforts,” DeFoor said. “These funds pay for equipment, training and insurance that each VFRA needs to effectively do their job.” 

A total of 2,501 municipalities received $68,268,053 for distribution to volunteer firefighter relief associations (VFRAs), which are legally separate from the fire departments that they support. Each township determines annually which fire relief association or associations will receive these funds, which are passed through to the fire relief associations. The Auditor General is also responsible for auditing the fire relief associations that receive these funds, which can be used for recruitment and retention. Click here for the press release. Click here to for allowable expenses of these funds.