MDC funds will help rural fire departments

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Missouri rural fire departments are receiving checks distributed by Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Forestry Division staff through July and August as part of the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Fire Department Matching Grant Program.

The checks of up to $3,000 will help with the purchase of personal protective gear and firefighting equipment for wildfires and structure fires. The total funding for fire department matching grants this year is $373,585. Southeast Missouri’s portion is $65,434.

According to the MDC, examples of equipment that will be purchased with these funds include STIHL forestry helmets, NOMEX safety coveralls, GPS units, safety vests and many other items.

Fire departments are required to match these funds, which are provided by the U.S. Forest Service and the MDC.

During the last 28 years, nearly $6 million has been distributed to rural fire departments to help them increase the safety of their fighters and provide them with better firefighting equipment.

Southeast Region 2010 Grants

• Black River Retreat Fire Department: $3,000
• Delta Fire Protection District: $3,000
• Ellington Volunteer Fire Department: $3,000
• Miner Volunteer Fire Department: $3,000
• Ozora Community Fire Protection Association: $3,000
• Quad County Fire Protection District: $3,000
• Rural Perry County Fire Protection District: $3,000
• Southern Iron County Fire Protection District: $3,000
• Zell Volunteer Fire Department: $3,000
• Patterson Fire Department: $2,990
• Scott County Rural Fire Protection District: $2,988
• Desloge Volunteer Fire Department: $2,977
• Bloomfield Fire Department: $2,973
• Big River Fire Protection Inc.: $2,948
• Kinsey Volunteer Fire Department: $2,910
• Weingarten Volunteer Fire Department: $2,820
• N. Reynolds County Fire Protection District: $2,636
• Biehle Comm Fire Protection Association: $2,499
• Garwood Fire Protection District: $2,014
• Butler County Fire Protection District: $1,820
• Chaleston Department of Public Safety $1,700
• Scott City Fire Department: $1,648
• Zalma Fire Department: $1,502
• Leadington Fire Department: $1,390
• Cascade Volunteer Fire Deptartment #11104: $1,162
• N. County Fire Protection District: $1,100
• Sedgewickville Fire Protection District: $1,079
• Lake Timberline Volunteer Fire Department: $1,000
• St. Mary Fire Department: $505