AMES – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forestry Bureau, in cooperation with U.S. Forest Service – State and Private Forestry, has awarded $194,820 in 50 percent cost-share grants to 90 Iowa rural fire departments to aid their efforts in protecting Iowan’s and their property from wildfires.
The grants offer valuable funding assistance for wildfire suppression equipment, personal protective equipment and communications equipment.
The following fire departments had their 2013 VFA grant requests approved:
Amana, Aurelia, Avoca, Blencoe, Brandon, Brighton, Cambridge, Charles City, Churdan, Creston, Cushing, Decorah, Eldora, Eldridge, Elk Horn, Elliott, Fertile, Fredericksburg, Garber, Garnavillo, Gowrie, Grand Mound, Gravity, Hansell, Harlan, Hartwick, Hazleton, Holstein, Ida Grove, Irwin, Janesville, Jefferson, Jefferson-Monroe, Jewell, Kamrar, Keota, Knoxville Twsp (Marion Co), Lamont, Larrabee, Lawler, Lone Rock, Lost Nation, Luana, Malcom, Manilla, Manly, Manson, Marcus, Masonville, McGregor, Melrose, Millersburg, Monticello, Montour, Moulton, Moville, New Market, Nichols, Nora Springs, Onawa, Oran, Ossian, Oxford, Pacific Junction, Polk City, Quimby, Rockford, Saint Olaf, Seymour, Sidney, Stanhope, Stanley, Stout, Stratford, Sutherland, Tama, Templeton, Thornton, Toledo, Union, Van Horne, Vincent, Volga, Wapello, Waterville, Waukon, West Point, West Union, Wilton and Woodward.
Gail Kantak, fire supervisor with the DNR’s Forestry Bureau, said it is important for all fire department to submit Wildland Fire Reports whenever they respond to a wildland fire or provide assistance to a prescribed or controlled wildland fire.