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The National Park Service (NPS), through Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, recently provided a $10,000 grant for rural fire assistance to the Teller County Office of Emergency Services and another $10,000 grant to the Florissant Fire and Rescue District (FRD). Teller County has used the funding to provide safety and fire fighting equipment for its newly developed countywide, wildland fire crew. The Florissant Volunteer Fire Department also plans to purchase wildland fire suppression equipment. The Florissant FRD also received an $8,000 grant from the NPS in 2002.
These grants were obtained through the Department of the Interior's Rural Fire Assistance program. This program allows federal agencies to distribute grants to rural fire departments to increase firefighter safety and enhance wildland fire protection capabilities.
"This Rural Fire Assistant grant enhances the landscape-scale efforts of the Front Range Fuels Treatment Partnership which is based on collaborative relationships with local agencies to address the impacts of catastrophic wildfire on communities and critical watersheds," said Superintendent Jeff Mow. "We are pleased to be able to contribute to the success of these important programs."
Fire districts serving a community with a population of less than 10,000 are eligible for funding and must share a minimum of 10% of the cost (which may include in-kind services). The grants can be used for wildland fire training, equipment, and prevention activities.
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