State Rep. Keith R. McCall, D-Carbon, announced the East Penn Township Volunteer Fire Company and the Bowmanstown Volunteer Fire Company have received low-interest loans from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

East Penn’s company received $70,000 for the purchase of a 1995 KME pumper/tanker on a Freightliner chassis.

The Bowmanstown company was awarded $95,139 toward the purchase of a 1995 Pierce Saber rescue/pumper truck.

McCall was responsible for introducing legislation, now law, to increase the amount of money fire companies could borrow and raise bond limits an additional $25 million, stressing the assistance is vital in helping emergency service providers to protect lives and properties.