The Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry officials announced this week that more than $320,000 in grant money was awarded to rural and volunteer fire departments around Indiana.
DNR Director Dan Bortner said that the awards will be used for training, installation of dry hydrants, or to purchase necessary firefighting equipment and gear to combat wildland fires. The grants were made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
The awarded grants range from $1,000 to $5,000 and were given to 76 departments.
Locally, in the category of wildland fires, the LaCrosse Volunteer Fire Department received $5,000 and the Long Beach Fire Department in La Porte County received $1,000. Safety grants were given to the Noble Township Volunteer Fire Department for $5,000 for safety, the Argos Volunteer Fire Department in Marshall County for $5,000, and Monterey and Tippecanoe Township Volunteer Fire Department for $5,000. Under the category of water handling, the Francesville Volunteer Fire Department got $4,500, the North Judson-Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department got $1,955 and the San Pierre Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $2,500.
