Local Fire Departments Receive Grants from Indiana DNR

A total of 100 rural and volunteer fire departments have received funding.

INDIANAPOLIS - A total of 100 rural and volunteer fire departments from 54 Indiana counties have been awarded $453,386 in Volunteer Fire Assistance Capacity (VFC) awards from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

The awards will be used for training, radios, or to purchase necessary firefighting equipment and gear to combat wildland fires. The grants are administered by the DNR Division of Forestry and made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.  

Recipients were selected based on population density, acres of public lands protected, and wildland fire reporting to DNR Fire Control Headquarters. As in past years, emphasis was given to projects that involved the fighting of wildfires. 

The awarded grants range from $1,090 to $5,000.

Local fire departments receiving the 2024 VFC grants, county, the amount of the grant, and the project category are: 

• Brookville VFD - $5,000, Safety
• Eagle Fire Co. of Oldenburg - $2,500, Water Handling
• Laure VFD - $5,000, Communications
• Metamora FD - $12,50, Wildlife Firefighting Assistance
• Batesville Volunteer Fire and Rescue - $5,000, Wildlife Firefighting Assistance