Fifty-five rural fire departments that help protect national wildlife refuge lands in six states of the Midwest recently received a share of more than $353,000 in federal grants to bolster their department’s firefighting capabilities. The funds are part of the Rural Fire Assistance Program, a federal grant program that is providing more than $10 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.
Fire departments in Minnesota (21), Wisconsin (9), Illinois (9), Indiana (6), Missouri (7), Iowa (2) and Michigan (1) received grants in amounts ranging from $795 in South Patoka, Ind., to $19,593 in Morris, Minn. The departments provide firefighting support to National Wildlife Refuges and Wetland Management Districts operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “These are small fire departments that assist us in a big way by providing valuable fire protection for our refuge lands,” said Robyn Thorson, Midwest regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “The grants will help firefighters get additional training or equipment they might need not only to help fight fires on our lands, but in their own communities as well.”
The Rural Fire Assistance Program, now in its third year, requires the fire departments to contribute 10 percent of the grant total with the federal government contributing 90 percent. To receive funds, 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, or for fire training. Fire departments and total grant amounts (local contribution plus federal share) are as follows:
Minnesota (21) Total award: $163,550.31
Pickwick, $2,697; Rollingstone, $4,500; Clinton, $7,931.11; Ortonville, $16,666.67; Dalton, $19,564.44Elizabeth , $8,700; Green Isle, $10,826.67; Hamburg, $4,600; Lake Crystal, $4,500; New Auburn $4,444.44; Carver, $4,320.00; Brooten, $13,326.28; Starbuck, $10,650.00; Morris, $19,593; Palisade, 4,642; Erskine, $5,460; Mentor, $2,000; Windom, $3,668.22; Jackson, $4,969.50; Jeffers, $3,085; Elbow-Tulaby Lake, $7,405.48.
Wisconsin (9) Total award: $41,181.26
Brownsville, $1,670; Kekoskee, $12,406; Montello, $6,500; Oakfield, $2,973; Waupun, $3,612.78; Lamartine, $5,416.65; Town of Lincoln, $2,848; Stoddard-Bergen, $3,438.50; Tri-Community, $2,316.
Illinois (9) Total award: $49,480.19
Lake Egypt, $5,260; Makanda Township, $1,590Williamson County $3,999.99; Dongola, $3,860; Ullin, $4,338; Lewistown, $3,700; Alexandria, $3,936.20; Havana, $19,837; Ridge Lake, $2,959.
Missouri (7) Total award: $30,921.44
Cooper County, $5,660; Pleasant Hill, $2,518.26; Calumet Township, $5,222.22; Butler County, $3,850; Lowndes, $3,639; Puxico, $3,456.96; Wappapello, $6,575.
Indiana (6) Total award: $36,114.16
Lockhart Township, $2,921.60; Owensville-Montgomery, $6,200.25; South Patoka, $795.91; Union, $13,409; Columbia, $10,457.40; Francisco, $2,300.
Iowa (2) Total award: $20,348.87
Bancroft, $7,299.96; New Albin, $13,058.91
Michigan (1) Total award: $12,300. to Spaulding Township.
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 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 542 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 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.
