More than $173,000 in 50 percent cost-share grants have recently been awarded to 74 of Iowa’s 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, personal protective and communications equipment.
The following fire departments will receive 2015 VFA grants: Alden, Allerton, Anamosa, Andrew, Aurelia, Battle Creek, Baxter, Blencoe, Camanche, Centerville, Centralia/Peosta Volunteer, Chariton, Cincinnati, Cresco Community, Creston, Decorah, Denver, Dow City, Elberon, Eldora, Elk Horn, Elkader, Floyd Community Volunteer, Frankville, Frederika, Garnavillo, Grandview, Harlan, Harpers Ferry, Ionia, Irwin, Kellogg, Knoxville Township, La Motte, Lohrville, Lost Nation, Malcom, Manly, Melbourne, Menlo, Moorhead, Moulton, Nashua, New Virginia - Virginia Township Fire & Rescue, North English Benefited Fire District, Onawa, Orange City, Oxford, Parkersburg, Pisgah, Pleasantville Emergency Services, Postville, Quimby, Riverton, Saint Olaf, Searsboro, Sidney, Stanton, Stuart, Sumner, Tama, Toledo, Tripoli, Ute, Van Horne, Wapello, Waukon, West Union Community Fire Service, Inc., Westgate - Fremont Township Fire Association, Wilton and Wyoming.
The grants are made possible through the Iowa DNR Forestry Bureau, in cooperation with US Forest Service - State and Private Forestry.
Gail Kantak, fire supervisor with the DNR’s Forestry Bureau, reminds all fire departments of the importance of submitting Wildland Fire Reports whenever they respond to a wildland fire or provide assistance to a prescribed or controlled wildland fire. Wildland fire reporting forms are available at www.iowadnr.gov/fire.
Departments returning these reports receive priority points when the Volunteer Fire Assistance grant applications are scored. These wildland fire reports are compiled locally and nationally and are reported to Congress.