Rural fire departments receive DNR grants

Nearly $350,000 in 50% cost-share grants were recently awarded to 105 Iowa rural fire departments including Belle Plaine and Van Horne in Benton County and Grinnell and Searsboro in Poweshiek County.

The grants offer funding assistance for wildfire suppression, personal protective and communications equipment. Requests were received from 180 fire departments totaling over $565,000 in requests, which shows a great need across rural Iowa.

Since 2021, more than 500 grants have been awarded resulting in an investment of more than $1,612,000 in wild land fire preparedness throughout the state

These grants are made possible through Iowa DNR Forestry, in cooperation with US Forest Service — State and Private Forestry.

Jason Walker, fire supervisor with DNR Forestry, reminds all fire departments of the importance of submitting Wildland Fire Reports whenever they respond to a wild land fire or provide assistance to a prescribed or controlled wild land fire.

Departments returning these reports receive priority points when the Fire Assistance grant applications are scored. These wild land fire reports are compiled locally and nationally and are reported to Congress.