Six volunteer fire departments receive grants to combat wildland fires

Six local volunteer fire departments received grants through Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

The six were among the 60 rural and volunteer fire departments that received more than $250,000 in Volunteer Fire Assistance grants made available through the USDA Forest Service. The grants can be used for training, installation of dry hydrants, or to purchase necessary firefighting equipment and gear to combat wildland fires.

• Celestine VFD (Dubois) received $2,613 training.
• Dubois VFD (Dubois) received $3,940 training.
• Haysville Community VFD received $2,462 for radios.
• Madison Twp. VFD received $3,097 for water handling equipment.
• Schnellville VFD received $3,275 for radios.
• St. Anthony VFD $3,219 for water handling equipment.

DNR Forestry staff review grant applications and select recipients on the basis of population density, acres of public wildlands protected, and wildland fire reporting to DNR Fire Control Headquarters.