The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced it is now accepting applications for volunteer forest firefighter grants.

Applications are due May 2.

"As the number of homes and communities in Pennsylvania's wooded and rural areas continues to grow each year, so, too, does the threat of wildfires," said DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis. "As the state agency responsible for protecting our state woodlands from fire, DCNR sees these grants as a boon to helping better organize, train and equip local firefighting forces in rural areas."

A record $559,211 in grants is available to Pennsylvania volunteers this year. A total of 176 companies across the state were helped last year with grants totaling more than $557,000. More than $7 million has been awarded since 1982.

The grants and other assistance are offered annually through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, with funding supplied by the USDA Forest Service through the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (Volunteer Fire Assistance).

In reviewing applications, the bureau will place priority on those requests 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 to be used 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 request that will be considered from any fire company in 2008 is $7,500.

All items approved for purchase under the 2007 fiscal year program must be purchased between October 1, 2007, and November 30, 2008.

For more information, visit the Forest Fire Protection webpage or contact Forest Program Specialist Charles C. Choplick at 717-787-2925, or by sending email to: cchoplick@state.pa.us.

3/7/2008