Several Local Fire Departments Receive Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants

Several local fire departments have been awarded grants.

The Iowa DNR says more than $415,000 in 50 percent cost-share grants were recently awarded to 131 Iowa rural fire departments to help their efforts to protect Iowans and their property from wildfires. The grants offer valuable funding assistance for wildfire suppression, personal protective and communications equipment.

Local fire departments receiving 2023 Volunteer Fire Assistance grants include Alburnett, Anamosa, Cascade, Centralia/Peosta, Fairbank, Greeley, Independence, Strawberry Point, Volga City, West Union and Wyoming.

These grants are made possible through Iowa DNR Forestry, in cooperation with US Forest Service – State and Private Forestry, who 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 Fire Assistance grant applications are scored. These wildland fire reports are compiled locally and nationally and are reported to Congress.