Kentucky Division of Forestry
Firewise and Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants Awarded

Firewise and Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants Awarded
Funds help communities and local fire departments reduce wildfire risks

      FRANKFORT, KY  (Aug. 24, 2009) – The Kentucky Division of Forestry (KDF) recently awarded  $490,088 in grant funds to communities and fire departments through the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grant program and the Firewise Community grant program.  Funding for the programs are provided by the USDA-Forest Service and administered by KDF.  The VFA grant program is designed to increase the capabilities of volunteer fire departments and the Firewise grant program is designed to decrease the wildland fire risk to communities in fire-prone areas where rural landscapes meet urban development—known as the wildland-urban interface. 

      VFA grants totaling $246,162 were awarded to 74 volunteer fire departments from across the state.  VFA grants are typically used to purchase training materials, pumps, hoses, tanks, small fire suppression equipment and personal protective equipment such as Nomex, fire shelters and gloves.  The objectives of the VFA grant program include the following:
• organize, train, and equip fire departments in unprotected rural areas and rural communities;
• assist qualifying fire departments in saving lives and protecting property in unprotected or inadequately protected rural communities;
• prevent or reduce loss of life, protect financial investments, and enhance environmental quality to revitalize rural America;
• and increase the opportunity for rural fire departments to acquire training and current information on fire prevention techniques.

 VFA grant recipients include the following volunteer fire departments (VFDs):

Anderson County VFD
Artemus VFD
Bagdad Fire Protection District
Barbourville VFD
Bethel VFD
Big Sandy VFD
Breeding Area VFD
Bremen VFD
Brooksville VFD
Burkesville VFD
Calloway VFD
Campbellsburg VFD
Cedar Springs VFD Station 2
Chalybeate VFD
City of Hazard VFD
Clear Springs VFD
Corinth VFD
Corydon Civil Defense VFD
Cromwell VFD
Crossroads VFD
Eagle Sawyer VFD
East Bernstadt VFD
Eastwood VFD
Flemingsburg VFD
Glencoe VFD Grand Lakes VFD
Hanson VFD
Harlan  VFD
Harrison County  VFD
Hayes Crossing/Haldeman VFD
Highland  VFD
Hurricane Creek  VFD
Jenkins  VFD
Kenton Community VFD
Kentucky 86  VFD
Kuttawa  VFD
Ky River  VFD
La Center Rural  VFD
LaRue County  VFD
Laurel County  VFD
Leitchfield  VFD
Louisa  VFD
Loyall  VFD
Maloneton  VFD
Marrowbone  VFD
McHenry  VFD
Meade County  VFD
Milburn  VFD
Moreland  VFD
Mortons Gap  VFD Muddlefork  VFD
Neon  VFD
Niagara  VFD
Nicholas County  VFD Nicholas  VFD
Oldtown  VFD
Patterson Creek  VFD
Princeton  VFD
Richardsville  VFD
Rochester  VFD
Rosine  VFD
Ruddles Mill-Shawhan  VFD
Sandy Hook  VFD
Science Hill  VFD
Shelby Valley  VFD
South Allen  VFD
Southeast Casey  VFD
St. Charles  VFD
Stamping Ground  VFD
Thealka  VFD
W R Castle  VFD
White Plains  VFD
Williamstown  VFD
Wolfe County  VFD

     Firewise grantees received a total of $243,926 in funding.  The 15 recipients were selected based on project submittals geared toward safe planning and design, effective emergency response and individual responsibility for safer home design.  Specifically, the Firewise program includes the following objectives:
• provide cost-share funds for fire mitigation and Firewise activities;
• foster closer relationships with fire departments and communities;
• educate the public about the benefits of fire mitigation;
• reduce the risks of wildfire in wildland/urban interface areas;
• and require completion of Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
 
     Firewise grant recipients include the following VFDs and organizations:

Brush Creek VFD
City of Harlan
Cumberland VFD
Dunnville VFD
Green Co. FirewiseBoard Hacker VFD
Hillsboro VFD
Lockards Creek VFD
Manchester VFD
N.E. Rowan Co. Firewise Board Oak Grove VFD
Poplar Springs VFD
Route 504 VFD
S.E. Casey Co. VFD
Summersville VFD

     For more information about the Firewise or Volunteer Fire Assistance grant funding and program objectives, contact KDF at 1-800-866-0555 or visit www.forestry.ky.gov.

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