Submitted by Ben Webster, Fire Program Supervisor for the Missouri Department of Conservation
Funding has been awarded for this year’s Volunteer Fire Assistance grants. One hundred fifty-four (154) fire departments will receive reimbursement of up to $4,500 to assist with the purchase of personal protective gear, communications equipment, and wildfire suppression equipment to help increase the fire departments capacity to suppress wildfires safely and efficiently.
The total funding awarded to Missouri fire departments through the matching funds grant program this year is $434,150.
Fire departments are required to match 50% of the funds which are provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation and the US Forest Service Volunteer Fire Assistance Program.
Throughout the last 30 years, over $8.5 million has been distributed to rural fire departments to help them increase the safety of their firefighters and provide them with better firefighting equipment.
The Green Castle Community Fire Department was awarded $1,447.50 and purchased 50 feet of one inch booster hose, and electric rewind hose reel and flashlights.
