The Delaware Forest Service is giving out thousands of dollars in grant funding to help volunteer fire companies fight wildfires.
More than $20,000 of grant funding is now available to help Delaware’s volunteer fire companies fight wildfires in their communities.
Kyle Hoyd is the assistant forestry administrator for the Delaware Forest Service.
“This funding means that all the volunteer fire companies in the State of Delaware are eligible to acquire apparatuses, such as skid units for wildland fire control, proper ppe, which is more lightweight than what they would normally wear, which is the bunker gear, gloves and hard hats,” Hoyd said.
Hoyd says volunteer fire companies can get safety gear, hoses and hand tools with the grant money.
He says applicants can request up to $4,500 per year. All grants require a 50-50 cost-share match in cash or in-kind services and priority will be given to applicants that have not received funding in the past three years.
Last year, seven volunteer fire companies received about $23,000 through the VFA grant program to purchase wildfire suppression equipment.
The application deadline is May 1st to apply for the grants. Applications are available online at the Delawre Forestry Service website.