HARRISBURG – State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Clearfield County, urged local volunteer fire companies to apply for grants available through the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Volunteer Fire Assistance grant program.
“Eligible fire companies may receive up to $7,500 in grants for the purchases of wildfire suppression equipment, wildfire or structural protective gear, mobile or portable radios, as well as installation of dry hydrants, wildfire prevention and mitigation, or wildfire training,” George said. “However, the May 17 deadline is fast approaching and applicants must act quickly.”
The specialized grants are offered through DCNR and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and are meant for rural fire companies who may lack adequate training or resources to combat wildfires.
The goal of the program is to create cooperative efforts to organize, train and equip local forces in rural areas or communities under 10,000 in population to prevent, control and suppress fires which threaten human life, livestock, wildlife, crops, pastures, orchards, woodlands, farmsteads, or other improvements in rural areas.
The key objectives of this program are to save lives and protect property in unprotected or inadequately protected rural areas. Therefore, the selection of the participating agencies must be based on vulnerability and the adequacy of existing fire protection.
“These grants require a 50 percent match from the applicant, and grant awardees may not apply again for five years,” George said. “However, if a previous grant recipient received less than $4,000, it may apply again as long as the total grant amount for the two years does not exceed the maximum $7,500.”
Additional information can be found on DCNR’s Web site.
“The May 17 deadline leaves little time for delay,” George said. “I urge any local, rural fire companies who may be eligible to act quickly to receive this money.”