2007 Volunteer Fire Assistant Grants Awarded
35 Local Volunteer Fire Departments Receive Funding to Combat Wildland Fires in Rural Communities

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ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Service awarded its 2007 Volunteer Fire Assistant (VFA) grants to 35 local volunteer fire departments across the state.  The projects to be funded in seven Maryland counties focus on increasing capacity for wildland fire suppression needs in rural communities.  Projects include wildland personal protective equipment, skid units for building brush trucks, replacing small diameter fire hose, upgrading communications equipment, purchase of Class A foam, installation of dry fire hydrants, and other equipment to enhance wildfire suppression.

“We are thankful for the fire protection provided by local volunteer fire departments,” said Monte Mitchell, DNR State Fire Supervisor.  “The grants help rural fire departments increase their effectiveness and safety in combating wildland fires in Maryland.”

Grant funds provided by the USDA Forest Service funded 35 applications this year for $86,690 in match funding to complete $189,861 of projects.  The maximum grant award equaled 50 percent of the total project cost with a maximum of $3,000 per department. Grant applications were very competitive and funding was only available to assist two-thirds of the volunteer fire departments that applied this year.

The following is a list of 2007 awards:

Volunteer Fire Department	County	Project Cost	Award
Barton Hose Company	Allegany	$5,526	$2,763
Bedford Road VFD	Allegany	$10,460	$3,000
Bittinger VFD	Garrett	$3,110	$1,555
Bloomington VFC	Garrett	$6,142	$3,000
Church Creek VFC	Dorchester	$6,575	$3,000
Cresaptown VFD	Allegany	$5,565	$2,783
Crisfield VFD	Somerset	$5,960	$2,980
Deep Creek VFC	Garrett	$6,000	$3,000
Fairmount VFC	Somerset	$3,228	$1,614
Flintstone VFD	Allegany	$5,978	$2,989
Fruitland VFD	Wicomico	$3,742	$1,571
Funkstown VFC	Washington	$6,000	$3,000
Goodwill VFD (Lonaconing)	Allegany	$6,725	$3,000
Hancock VFC	Washington	$4,000	$2,000
Lakes & Straits VFC	Dorchester	$4,430	$2,215
LaVale VFD	Allegany	$5,750	$2,875
Lewistown District VFD	Frederick	$5,305	$2,653
Madison VFC	Dorchester	$6,028	$3,000
Marion VFD	Somerset	$6,351	$3,000
Maugansville VFC	Washington	$2,200	$1,100
Midland VFC	Allegany	$2,417	$1,208
Mt. Savage	Allegany	$5,500	$2,750
Mt. Vernon VFD	Somerset	$4,789	$2,395
Neck District VFC	Dorchester	$5,545	$2,773
Oldtown VFD	Allegany	$6,000	$3,000
Orleans VFD	Allegany	$2,482	$1,241
Parsonsburg VFD	Wicomico	$6,542	$3,000
Potomac Fire Company # 2	Allegany	$6,000	$3,000
Powellville VFC	Wicomico	$3,036	$1,518
Salisbury FD	Wicomico	$15,000	$3,000
Secretary VFC	Dorchester	$5,722	$2,861
Shaft VFD	Allegany	$6,012	$3,000
Sharpsburg VFD	Washington	$2,169	$1,085
Vienna VFC	Dorchester	$6,050	$3,000
Williamsport VFC	Washington	$3,522	$1,761
Total		$189,861	$86,690

For more information on the VFA program in Maryland, go to the Forest Service Wildland Fire Management website at: http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/forests/wfm.asp and click on Volunteer Fire Assistance.

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August 20, 2007

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov