Grant Funding and Engines Available to Local Fire Districts

Olympia, WA - The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today that the agency will award grant dollars this spring to eligible fire districts and departments through the Wildland Fire Assistance Grant Program that is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In Washington State, DNR administers the Wildland Fire Assistance Grant Program, which is open to all fire districts and fire departments serving communities less than 10,000 residents. Fire districts and fire departments serving communities with more than 10,000 residents may qualify, providing their service area includes a rural area or rural community with a population of less than 10,000. The application deadline is April 30, 2012.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) and other fire equipment can be acquired mid-March until the last Friday in April. Eligible districts can easily select equipment online using the Phase I PPE Shopping Cart. Selections are saved by the user and emailed to DNR for consideration. No orders are actually placed online.

Firefighter Property Program enrollment begins June 1

This program helps fire protection districts and departments to attain fire engines and fire tenders (vehicles that bring water, foam, or dry chemicals to fire trucks in the field) suitable for low-cost conversion to wildland use. Fire districts receive the title to the property. Districts may have to pay the expense of transporting the vehicle from an out-of-state location. (About two-thirds of the vehicles located through this program come from other states.)

Interested districts can find detailed assistance program information on DNR’s website.