Eighty rural and volunteer fire departments from 50 counties have been awarded more than $351,000 in Volunteer Fire Assistance grants.

The awards, which were announced by DNR Director Dan Bortner, 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 lands protected, and wildland fire reporting to DNR Fire Control Headquarters. As in past years, emphasis was given to projects that involved the fighting of wildfires.

The awarded grants range from $1,250 to $5,000.

Fire departments receiving the grants in 2022 include:

Bowling Green Volunteer Fire Department, Clay, $2,500, Radios
Van Buren Township Volunteer Fire Department, Clay, $5,000, Safety
Poland FPT, Clay/Owen, $5,000, Wildland

A and A Twp. Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., Morgan, $5,000, Wildland
Brooklyn Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., Morgan, $2,500, Wildland
Gregg Twp. Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., Morgan, $2,500, Wildland
Cataract Volunteer Fire Department, Owen, $5,000, Safety
Adams Twp. Fire Department, Parke, $5,000, Water Handling
J.U.G.A Volunteer Fire Department, Parke, $5,000, Radios