Highland VFD grant aids communication

Highland Volunteer Fire Department in McCandless will receive $220,000 from the state for upgrades to its fire communications equipment.

The award was from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

“These funds will fully cover the replacement of our current portable — what our firefighters carry on calls — mobile (which is) in our apparatus and station radios. Our current radios are over 10 years old, operate older technology and are reaching the end of life,” said Mike Cangilla, assistant chief and Highland VFD.

Highland is one of three volunteer fire departments that serve McCandless and surrounding areas. The others include Ingomar Volunteer Fire Company and the Peebles District Volunteer Fire Company.

“The purchase of new radios will bring the station up to date with current technology that will be compatible with future system upgrades in process with the county 911 system, as well as provide our members with more reliable equipment to utilize on emergency scenes,” Cangilla said.

Highland recently applied for a federal grant that would aid building improvements, including a new roof, new floors in the garage area, new outside doors and various other improvements, according to Shawn O’Brien, firefighter and life member of the Highland Volunteer Fire Department.

“We also have a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant outstanding as our SCBA (which is the) breathing apparatus when we go into smoke conditions, are mostly beyond their expiration dates and we have a limited number of them left to use on fire calls,” O’Brien said.