STATEWIDE — More than 70 rural and volunteer fire departments from 46 counties across the state have been awarded more than $319,000 in Volunteer Fire Assistance grants, according to Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Dan Bortner.
Local fire departments receiving grant funds, the amount of the grant, and the project category are:
- Letts Community Volunteer Fire Department – $4,750 – Communication.
- Eagle Fire Company (Oldenburg) – $4,000 – Water Handling.
The awards will be used for training, installation of dry hydrants, or purchasing necessary firefighting equipment and gear to combat wildland fires. The grants are administered by the DNR Division of Forestry and made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
Recipients were selected based on population density, acres of public wildlands protected, and wildland fire reporting to DNR Fire Control Headquarters. As in past years, emphasis was given to projects that involve the fighting of wildfires.
The awarded grants range from $1,590 to $5,000 and were given to 73 departments.
Fire departments interested in applying for future grants should contact Mark Huter, Assistant State Fire Coordinator, Fire Control Headquarters, 6220 Forest Road, Martinsville, IN 46151, or call (765) 792-4654.
(Indiana Department of Natural Resources press release)
