The funds are part of the Rural Fire Assistance Program, a federal pilot program that is providing more than $1.2 million nationally to enhance the capabilities of fire departments that provide fire protection to lands managed by agencies within the U.S. Department of Interior.
"This program is designed to increase firefighter safety and firefighting capabilities of those small town fire departments that help provide fire protection to our refuges and wetland management districts," said Bill Hartwig, Midwest regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Recent history has shown us the importance of safely controlling fires on federal lands. These volunteer fire departments and rural fire departments provide a valuable service. The funds provided by this program will help those small departments get the additional training and equipment they might need not only to help us, but their own communities as well ."
The Rural Fire Assistance Program is a cost-share program. Fire departments contribute 10 percent, the federal contribution is 90 percent. To receive funds provided by the Program, fire departments must have a fire agreement with a local Refuge or Wetland Management District, or be part of a statewide agreement with the State Forester who maintains cooperative agreements with rural and volunteer fire departments. Fire departments must also serve a community with less than 10,000 inhabitants. Fire departments can use the funds to purchase equipment and supplies, conduct fire training.
Rural fire departments in the process of receiving RFAP funds from the Department of Interiors Rural Fire Assistance Program are listed below.
Illinois (6) Amount
Havana Rural Fire/Police Department $ 619.
Lewiston Fire/Police Department $ 9,583.
Ridgelake Fire/Police Department $ 9,583.
Lake Egypt Fire/Police Department $ 3,965.
Makanda Township Fire Department $ 2,665.
Williamson Fire/Police Department $ 9,673.
Michigan (1) Amount
Spaulding Township Fire Department $ 9,583.
Minnesota (17) Amount
Ashby Fire Department $ 9,583.
Pelican Rapids Fire Department $ 9,583.
Carver Fire Department $ 9,583.
Green Isle Fire Department $ 9,583.
Clinton Fire Department $ 8,370.
Glenwood Fire Department $ 9,720.
Starbuck Fire Department $ 9,720.
Detroit Lakes Fire Department $ 9,709.
Erskine Fire Department $ 9,720.
Mentor Fire Department $ 9,720.
La Crescent Fire Department $ 2,197.
Stoddard/Bergen Volunteer Fire Department $ 9,703.
Minnesota City Volunteer Fire Department $ 3,062.
Pickwick Volunteer Fire Department $ 2,725.
Rolling Stone Volunteer Fire Department $ 3,245.
Odessa Fire Department $ 9,671.
Palisade Fire Department $ 9,234.
Missouri (2) Amount
Rosendale Rural Fire/Police Department $ 9,583.
Southern Fire/Police Department of Holt County $ 8,100.
Wisconsin (8) Amount
Brownsville Fire Company $ 1,275.
Wapun Fire Department $ 2,732.
Deer Park Area Fire Department $ 8,640.
New Richmond Fire Department $ 5,287.
Roberts/Warren Fire Department $ 8,991.
Lincoln Fire Department $ 4,010.
Necedah Fire Department $ 9,583.
Knowles Fire Department $ 9,000.
The rural fire departments submitted grant applications through local offices of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As of August 15, grants have been awarded to 15 departments. The remaining grants will be awarded by September 30, 2001.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 94-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 535 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service | | | | | | |
