The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources opened its application period for grants to help rural communities better guard against the threat of fires in forested, undeveloped and unprotected areas.

Applications are due May 13. More than $508,000 is available during this grant round.

DCNR will place a priority on those seeking funds for projects that include the purchase of wildfire suppression equipment and protective clothing. Grants also may be used for: mobile or portable radios; installation of dry hydrants; wildfire prevention and mitigation; wildfire fighter training; or conversion and maintenance of federal excess vehicles received from the Bureau of Forestry and are using for fire suppression.

Grants for any project during a fiscal year cannot exceed 50 percent of the actual expenditures of local, public and private nonprofit organizations in the agreement. The maximum grant that will be considered from any fire company in 2005 is $7,500. All items approved for purchase under the 2005 fiscal year program must be purchased between Oct. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2005.

Grant applications and more information may be obtained from the Bureau of Forestry’s Division of Forest Fire Protection. Contact Forest Program Specialist Charles C. Choplick at (717) 787-2925 for more information.

3/18/2005