Published: June 13, 2009 08:47 pm         

Rural, volunteer fire departments across state receive grants

Rural and volunteer fire departments from 48 counties across Indiana have been awarded more than $268,000 in volunteer fire assistance grants, DNR Director Robert E. Carter Jr. announced recently.

The grants are administered by the DNR Division of Forestry and are made available through the U.S. Forest Service. DNR forestry staff reviews grant applications and selects recipients on the basis of population density, acres of public wildlands protected, wildland urban interface analysis and wildlife fire reporting to DNR Fire Control Headquarters near Martinsville.

VFA grants may be used for training, installation of dry hydrants or to purchase firefighting equipment and personal protective gear. The grants awarded Monday range from $360 to $5,000 and were given to 74 fire departments.

Fire departments interested in applying for VFA or other grants should contact Crystal M. Hunt, Program Director, Fire Control Headquarters, 6220 Forest Road, Martinsville, IN 46151, or call (765) 342-4701.