Scranton to Upgrade Warning Lights at Six Fire Stations

City seeks $269,400 state grant to improve traffic and pedestrian safety during emergency responses.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The city of Scranton, Pennsylvania plans to apply for a $269,400 state grant to upgrade traffic warning lights at six fire stations throughout the city. The upgraded lights aim to improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians when firefighters are responding to or returning from emergency calls.

Why it matters

The fire stations selected for the upgrades are located in high-traffic and high-pedestrian areas, where firetrucks must merge directly into moving traffic when responding to calls. The new warning lights will provide a visible and immediate alert to approaching drivers, improving awareness and compliance to allow for safer passage of emergency vehicles.

The details

Scranton plans to upgrade warning lights at six fire stations: Fire Headquarters, Station No. 2, Station No. 4, Station No. 6, Station No. 7, and Station No. 8. The activated lights will alert motorists and pedestrians of approaching fire department vehicles, reducing the risk of collisions during critical emergency response situations.

  • Scranton City Council unanimously introduced the resolution to seek the grant on Tuesday, February 26, 2026.
  • The resolution will come back before council for a vote on adoption at their next meeting on Tuesday, March 5, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.

The players

Paige Gebhardt Cognetti

The mayor of Scranton, who announced the city's plans to seek the $269,400 state grant to upgrade the warning lights.

Scranton City Council

The city council unanimously introduced the resolution to seek the grant, and will vote on its adoption at their next meeting.

Scranton Fire Department

The fire department, whose stations will receive the upgraded warning lights to improve safety during emergency responses.

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What they’re saying

“This application continues our efforts to improve emergency response times and driver and pedestrian safety. By prioritizing fire stations in high traffic areas, we can help first responders reach emergencies safely, and faster, while simultaneously protecting residents traveling throughout the City.”

— Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, Mayor (thetimes-tribune.com)

What’s next

The Scranton City Council will vote on adopting the resolution to seek the $269,400 state grant at their next meeting on Tuesday, March 5, 2026.

The takeaway

The planned upgrades to warning lights at Scranton's fire stations demonstrate the city's commitment to improving public safety and emergency response times, while also protecting motorists and pedestrians in high-traffic areas.