Staff Reports
Three area volunteer fire departments, including one in Bartholomew County, have received grants from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources forestry division.
Southwest Bartholomew Volunteer Fire Department in Bartholomew County received a $3,910 grant for safety equipment and training.
Two Jennings County fire departments, Campbell Township Volunteer Fire Department and Spencer Township Volunteer Fire Department, each received a grant, both for radios. Campbell firefighters received $4,935 and Spence received $5,000, according to the DNR.
The departments were among 71 in 46 different counties who were awarded a total of $297,000 in Volunteer Fire Assistance grants.
The grants are administered by the DNR Division of Forestry and made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
DNR Forestry staff reviewed grant applications and selected recipients on the basis of population density, acres of public wetlands protected and wild-land fire reporting to DNR Fire Control headquarters.
Grant money may be used for training, installation of dry hydrants or to purchase necessary firefighting equipment and gear to combat wild-land fires, DNR officials said.
The Wild-land Fire category was highlighted for grants, with the amounts ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 per department.
Fire departments interested in receiving future Volunteer Fire Assistance grants should contact Mark Huter, Assistant State Fire Coordinator, Fire Control Headquarters, 6220 Forest Road, Martinsville, IN 46151 or call 765-792-4654.
