More than 70 rural and volunteer fire departments from 46 counties have been awarded more than $319,000 in Volunteer Fire Assistance grants.

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 are administered by the DNR  Division of Forestry and made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

Recipients were selected based on population density, acres of public wildlands protected, and wildland fire reporting to DNR Fire Control Headquarters. As in past years, emphasis was given to projects that involve the fighting of wildfires.

The awarded grants range from $1,590 to $5,000 and were given to 73 departments.

Fire departments receiving the grants in 2021, county, the amount of the grant, and the project category include:

Van Buren Township Volunteer Fireman’s Assoc., Inc. (Clay), $5,000.00 - Safety

Stilesville Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc. (Hendricks), $2,365.00 - Safety

A & A Township Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. (Morgan), $5,000.00 -  Wildland

Gregg Township Fire Department  (Morgan), $2,500.00 - Safety

Washington Township Fire Department (Morgan), $5,000.00 - Safety

Adams Township Fire Department  (Parke), $5,000.00 - Water Handling

J.U.G.A. Volunteer Fire Department (Parke), $5,000.00 - Safety