FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2011
DNR announces 2010 volunteer fire assistance grants to 23 districts and departments across Washington
Rural firefighters get needed financial aid
OLYMPIA – Twenty-three rural fire protection districts and fire department agencies have been awarded just over $200,000 in volunteer fire assistance grant funds for 2010 to purchase much needed personal protective clothing, fire shelters and basic fire suppression tools. The funds are provided by the United States Forest Service (USFS) and administered by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
“During these challenging, economic times, this volunteer fire assistance is desperately needed,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. “The program pays for half the cost of new safety equipment for our fire districts.”
The next opportunity to apply for this grant begins March 14, 2011, and all applications are due no later than April 29, 2011. To be eligible, fire districts and departments must serve less than 10,000 residents and provide wildland fire protection to private, state and federal land. Fire districts also can use this funding for needed training, update radio communications, or to rebuild firefighter property vehicles.
Interested districts can find detailed information, including downloadable applications, on the DNR website at:
http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEducation/Topics/FireInformation/Pages/rp_fire_dnrfdassistprog.aspx
Volunteer fire assistance grant funds were authorized by the 1990 U.S. Congress and are being provided by the U.S. Forest Service. This is one of several programs administered by DNR to provide equipment, training, and improve communications for Washington fire districts and departments.
Follow DNR’s Fire Twitter feed at: http://twitter.com/waDNR_fire
For a listing of counties, go to http://www.dnr.wa.gov/publications/rp_fire_volunteer_fire_grant.pdf
DNR’s wildfire mission
Administered by Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark, DNR is responsible for preventing and fighting wildfires on 12.7 million acres of private, state and tribal-owned forestlands. DNR is the state’s largest on-call fire department, with over 1,000 employees trained and available to be dispatched to fires as needed. During fire season, this includes over 700 DNR employees who have other permanent jobs with the agency and about 375 seasonal workers. Additionally, Department of Correction inmates participate in the DNR correctional camps program. DNR also participates in Washington’s coordinated interagency approach to firefighting.
Media Contact: Janet Pearce, Communications and Outreach, 360-902-1122, janet.pearce@dnr.wa.gov .
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| List of Fire Districts or Departments Who Received Grants in 2010 |
| Fire District or Department | Grant award | Purpose |
| Adams Co FPD #5 | $5,317.20 | Firefighter property refurbishment |
| Chelan Co FPD #4 | $7,500.00 | Communications |
| Chelan Co FPD #9 | $6,507.50 | Fire Equipment |
| Douglas Co FPD #4 | $2,996.08 | Fire Equipment/Communications |
| Grant Co FPD #12 | $9,150.00 | Firefighter property refurbishment |
| Klickitat Co FPD #15 | $21,700.00 | Firefighter property refurbishment |
| White Salmon Fire Department | $12,751.00 | Fire Equipment |
| Mason Co FPD #5 | $13,500.00 | Fire Equipment |
| Mason Co FPD #9 | $30,000.00 | Firefighter property refurbishment |
| Okanogan Co FPD #12 | $13,010.50 | Firefighter property refurbishment |
| Okanogan Co FPD #16 | $12,227.80 | Firefighter property refurbishment |
| Okanogan Co FPD #6 | $5,368.85 | Communications |
| Pacific Co FPD #1 | $14,281.00 | FFP refurbishment/ Training |
| Skagit Co FPD #14 | $3,722.64 | Communications |
| Skagit Co FPD #17-Guemes FD | $2,155.33 | Fire Equipment |
| Snohomish Co FPD #17 | $1,500.00 | Training |
| Snohomish Co FPD #22 | $8,950.00 | Fire Equipment |
| Spokane Co FPD #5 | $2,195.20 | Fire Equipment |
| Spokane Co FPD #11 | $2,487.12 | Safety Clothing/Equipment Communications |
Joint, Ferry Co #3 & Stevens Co #8 | $20,000.00 | Firefighter property refurbishment |
| Chewelah Volunteer FD | $1,000.00 | Training |
| Cathlamet FD | $3,521.14 | Fire Equipment/Training |
| Whatcom Co FPD #11 | $5,370.75 | Communications |
| Yakima Co FPD #3 | $2,519.00 | Fire Equipment |
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