The Alaska Division of Forestry recently awarded more than $186,000 to 40 rural fire departments around the state to improve firefighting capabilities and to enhance wildfire protection in the wildland-urban interface. Funding for the program was made available through the U.S. Forest Service as part of the federal Volunteer Fire Assistance program to help improve fire protection in inadequately protected areas.
The fire departments use this money to purchase items such as personal protective equipment, hoses, pumps, portable water tanks, tools and other resources used to help fight both structure and wildland fires. Local fire departments are important in helping accomplish the mission of protecting Alaskans from wildfire.
Several fire departments across the Kenai Peninsula received funding. They include:
Fire departments could apply for up to $5,000 in grant funds. The money received cannot be used for repair, construction or purchase of buildings, land acquisition, emergency medical equipment, computers or computer software and other specified items. The Division of Forestry annually provides VFA grant funds to fire departments around the state. Last year, the DOF awarded more than $159,000 to 34 fire departments around the state.
To qualify for the grants, fire departments must serve a population of 10,000 or less, be a registered fire department with the Alaska Division of Fire & Life Safety and provide a minimum of 10% non-federal matching funds. Nearly all of the fire departments receiving grants have cooperating agreements with DOF to help suppress wildfires in their service areas.
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