September 22nd, 2016 by WCBC Radio

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the recipients of the 2016 Volunteer Fire Assistance Program grants, which provide financial and technical assistance to rural volunteer fire departments and their communities.

This year, the department awarded $89,025 to 39 volunteer fire departments in 12 Maryland counties.

“These funds are essential to help outfit our brave volunteer firefighters across the state,” Maryland Fire Supervisor Monte Mitchell said. “They provide fire departments with much needed equipment, training and vehicles for wildland firefighting before the start of the fall fire season.”

The grants, provided by the United States Forest Service, and administered by the Maryland Forest Service, help build-out capacity for wildland fire protection in rural areas. This year, 53 fire departments from 19 counties applied for just over $250,000.

Here is a list of the 2016 grant recipients (by county):

Volunteer Fire Department	County	Project Cost	Award
Baltimore Pike Volunteer Fire Company	Allegany	$6,063	$3,000
Barton Hose Company 1	Allegany	$5,792	$2,896
Flintstone Volunteer Fire Company	Allegany	$2,300	$1,150
Good Willl Volunteer Fire Company 1	Allegany	$1,310	$655
LaVale Volunteer Fire Department	Allegany	$5,500	$2,750
Mount Savage Volunteer Fire Department	Allegany	$4,770	$2,385
Orleans Volunteer Fire Company	Allegany	$1,340	$670
Rawlings Volunteer Fire Department	Allegany	$6,000	$3,000
Shaft Volunteer Fire Department	Allegany	$5,968	$2,984