Washington State Department of Natural Resources Works with Local Fire Districts to Protect Communities

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The Washington State Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Firefighter Property Program (FFP) provides small fire districts across Washington with grants to refurbish surplus federal equipment for firefighting. The grant program is administered by DNR and uses funds provided by the United Stated Forest Service (USFS) to improve the state's ability to fight wildfires by better equipping local fire districts. This program also reduces equipment costs to taxpayers.

DNR and USFS sponsor the FFP grants each year. There is $300,000 available this year, and the deadline for applying is October 29. Refurbishing surplus engines and chassis into useable firefighting equipment is the highest priority for funding. Grant applicants may contact Bob Bannon for more information at 360-902-1315 or robert.bannon@dnr.wa.gov.

All fire districts have the opportunity to receive surplus federal equipment. Upon receipt of engine and tender chassis, the title to the property is turned over to the fire district. Then grant funds are used to rebuild those chassis and put them in vehicles and into service within a year. The local fire district must also agree to assist DNR in fighting wildfires in Washington.

Here are two of last year's successful grant recipients:

• Klickitat County Fire Protection District #4 in Lyle announced they received their second vehicle and put it into service just in time to fight a wildfire in August of this year. They received their first chassis in 2009. They also received a second Volunteer Fire Assistance grant through DNR to fund a portion of the costs for converting the truck into firefighting status.
• Jefferson County Fire Protection District #5 in Sequim went through the grant process with the Firefighter Property Program in 2009. The fire district made modifications to a tender in order to bring it up-to-date. It was then put into service at the beginning of October of this year.

To view photos of the equipment, visit the DNR flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wastatednr/5118270055/in/photostream/.



Author:Washington Dept. of Natural Resources News Release