Rural Fire Departments See Grants Across States

Public and private funders are directing grants toward fire departments, with several programs specifically supporting rural and wildland response. Pennsylvania is offering nearly $1 million in grants of up to $15,000 for eligible rural fire companies to buy wildfire equipment, protective gear, radios and other resources or to provide training. Iowa’s DNR and the U.S. Forest Service are offering rural departments up to $4,500 in reimbursement for wildfire-specific equipment, while Iowa Select Farms and the Deb & Jeff Hansen Foundation have launched a separate $222,000 initiative providing support to 65 rural departments. In Ohio, FEMA grants are helping five departments pay for needs including fire hose, exhaust removal systems and breathing apparatus.