8/20/2007
2007 Volunteer Fire Assistant Grants Awarded
35 Local Volunteer Fire Departments Receive Funding to Combat Wildland Fires in Rural CommunitiesANNAPOLIS, MD — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Service awarded its 2007 Volunteer Fire Assistant (VFA) grants to 35 local volunteer fire departments across the state. The projects to be funded in seven Maryland counties focus on increasing capacity for wildland fire suppression needs in rural communities. Projects include wildland personal protective equipment, skid units for building brush trucks, replacing small diameter fire hose, upgrading communications equipment, purchase of Class A foam, installation of dry fire hydrants, and other equipment to enhance wildfire suppression.
“We are thankful for the fire protection provided by local volunteer fire departments,” said Monte Mitchell, DNR State Fire Supervisor. “The grants help rural fire departments increase their effectiveness and safety in combating wildland fires in Maryland.”
Grant funds provided by the USDA Forest Service funded 35 applications this year for $86,690 in match funding to complete $189,861 of projects. The maximum grant award equaled 50 percent of the total project cost with a maximum of $3,000 per department. Grant applications were very competitive and funding was only available to assist two-thirds of the volunteer fire departments that applied this year.
The following is a list of 2007 awards:
|
Volunteer Fire Department |
County |
Project Cost |
Award |
|
|
|||
| Barton Hose Company | Allegany |
$5,526 |
$2,763 |
| Bedford Road VFD | Allegany |
$10,460 |
$3,000 |
| Bittinger VFD | Garrett |
$3,110 |
$1,555 |
| Bloomington VFC | Garrett |
$6,142 |
$3,000 |
| Church Creek VFC | Dorchester |
$6,575 |
$3,000 |
| Cresaptown VFD | Allegany |
$5,565 |
$2,783 |
| Crisfield VFD | Somerset |
$5,960 |
$2,980 |
| Deep Creek VFC | Garrett |
$6,000 |
$3,000 |
| Fairmount VFC | Somerset |
$3,228 |
$1,614 |
| Flintstone VFD | Allegany |
$5,978 |
$2,989 |
| Fruitland VFD | Wicomico |
$3,742 |
$1,571 |
| Funkstown VFC | Washington |
$6,000 |
$3,000 |
| Goodwill VFD (Lonaconing) | Allegany |
$6,725 |
$3,000 |
| Hancock VFC | Washington |
$4,000 |
$2,000 |
| Lakes & Straits VFC | Dorchester |
$4,430 |
$2,215 |
| LaVale VFD | Allegany |
$5,750 |
$2,875 |
| Lewistown District VFD | Frederick |
$5,305 |
$2,653 |
| Madison VFC | Dorchester |
$6,028 |
$3,000 |
| Marion VFD | Somerset |
$6,351 |
$3,000 |
| Maugansville VFC | Washington |
$2,200 |
$1,100 |
| Midland VFC | Allegany |
$2,417 |
$1,208 |
| Mt. Savage | Allegany |
$5,500 |
$2,750 |
| Mt. Vernon VFD | Somerset |
$4,789 |
$2,395 |
| Neck District VFC | Dorchester |
$5,545 |
$2,773 |
| Oldtown VFD | Allegany |
$6,000 |
$3,000 |
| Orleans VFD | Allegany |
$2,482 |
$1,241 |
| Parsonsburg VFD | Wicomico |
$6,542 |
$3,000 |
| Potomac Fire Company # 2 | Allegany |
$6,000 |
$3,000 |
| Powellville VFC | Wicomico |
$3,036 |
$1,518 |
| Salisbury FD | Wicomico |
$15,000 |
$3,000 |
| Secretary VFC | Dorchester |
$5,722 |
$2,861 |
| Shaft VFD | Allegany |
$6,012 |
$3,000 |
| Sharpsburg VFD | Washington |
$2,169 |
$1,085 |
| Vienna VFC | Dorchester |
$6,050 |
$3,000 |
| Williamsport VFC | Washington |
$3,522 |
$1,761 |
|
|
|
||
|
Total |
$189,861 |
$86,690 |
For more information on the VFA program in Maryland, go to the Forest Service Wildland Fire Management website at: http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/forests/wfm.asp and click on Volunteer Fire Assistance.
