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HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania fire, rescue and emergency medical services organizations may apply for a share of $250,000 to help prepare personnel to respond to emergencies involving unconventional gas wells.
State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook announced that applications opened Wednesday for the 2026 Act 13 Unconventional Gas Well Fund Grant Program. Applications must be submitted online by 4 p.m. Nov. 30.
The program provides funding to volunteer and career fire departments, rescue companies and EMS organizations for specialized training, professional certifications and equipment needed to respond safely to gas well-related emergencies.
Organizations located in the 40 Pennsylvania counties where unconventional gas-well drilling has been permitted are eligible to apply. Agencies in 11 counties that directly border those counties are also eligible.
"Act 13 funding delivered through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner helps fire, rescue and EMS agencies offset the costs for the training and tools they need to respond quickly and safely to gas well incidents," Cook said. "These grants strengthen community readiness and help ensure the safety of both first responders and the people they serve."
Eligible projects include developing, providing and sustaining training programs; obtaining professional certifications; and purchasing specialized equipment used during emergencies involving natural gas production from unconventional wells.
Funding may be used to obtain national professional certifications for fire, rescue and EMS personnel. It may also support the purchase of firefighting, rescue, emergency medical or air-monitoring equipment used during incidents at or related to unconventional gas-well pads.
Training on grant-funded equipment is available through the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy at no additional cost to recipients, according to the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.
The grants may also pay for training courses and required educational materials intended to prepare emergency responders for incidents at gas-well sites or involving the unconventional natural gas industry.
The program is funded through Act 13 of 2012, which established an impact fee on unconventional natural gas wells and authorized portions of the revenue to support affected communities and statewide programs.
Additional information, including the list of eligible counties and application instructions, is available through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner's website.