Sixty of Indiana’s rural and volunteer fire departments are sharing in more than $250,000 in federal grants they can use for training, to buy equipment or other purposes.
The grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture range from $575 to $5,000.
The funding was awarded by forestry staff with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to rural and volunteer fire departments in 36 Indiana counties. DNR staff who reviewed the grant applications awarded them based in part on population density and the acres of public wildlands those agencies protect.
Departments can use the funding for training, installation of dry hydrants or to purchase necessary firefighting equipment and gear to combat wildland fires.
*The Vincennes Township Department in Knox County received over $4400 for water handling.
*The Shoals Fire Department got $575 for wild lands.
*In Pike County, the Jefferson Township Department received $5000 for safety equipment and the Patoka Township Department will get $2550 for radios
*Other receiving grant funds were the White River Hazelton Department in Gibson County, the Eastern Fire Department Beech Creek Township in Greene County and several departments in Dubois county including, Celestine, Dubois, Haysville, Madison Township, Schnellville and St. Anthony.
Fire departments interested in applying for VFA grants should write Crystal M. Hunt, Program Coordinator, Fire Control Headquarters, 6220 Forest Road, Martinsville, IN, 46151, or call
