Three Area Fire Departments Each Receive $5,000 From DNR Grant

Three Clinton County fire departments have each received a $5,000 grant as part of the $351,000 given out in Volunteer Fire Assistance grants made possible by the Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry and made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

The three fire departments are Forest Volunteer Fire Department, Kirklin Fire Territory and Rossville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. Forest received their funds to get radios, while Kirklin and Rossville both received their grant for safety.

Eighty rural and volunteer fire departments from 50 counties have been awarded more than $351,000 in Volunteer Fire Assistance grants.

The awards, which were announced Tuesday by DNR Director Dan Bortner, will be used for training, installation of dry hydrants, or to purchase necessary firefighting equipment and gear to combat wildland fires.

Recipients were selected based on population density, acres of public lands protected, and wildland fire reporting to DNR Fire Control Headquarters. As in past years, emphasis was given to projects that involved the fighting of wildfires.

The awarded grants range from $1,250 to $5,000.