Summit, Wasatch county fire agencies receive grants

Fire agencies in Summit and Wasatch counties will receive grants to acquire or upgrade equipment or provide training for firefighters. The funds come from the 2005 Fire Department Assistance Grant program.

The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands administers the program to provide financial assistance to the state's fire departments. Nearly $2 million has been awarded to 147 fire departments statewide.

Park City Fire District will receive $4,000, Heber/Jordanelle $9,000 and South Summit Fire District $6,000.

"The money can be used for wildland or structural fire training, prevention, personal protective equipment and basic suppression equipment," said Tracy Dunford, assistant fire management officer. "The smallest award this year is $881 to the Morgan Fire Department and the largest is $30,000 to the Hamblin Fire Department in Washington County."

Grant funds come from three sources -- two federal and one state. They are rural fire assistance from the Department of the Interior, volunteer fire assistance from the U.S. Forest Service, and funds from the Utah Fire Marshal's office through the fire prevention board.

Each of these funding sources has slightly different requirements for eligibility and use. They have been blended into a single program to make the process less confusing. Fire departments now apply through the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands using a single application and one set of deadlines.

"The grant awards require a match in dollar amount or in-kind services," said Dunford. "The in-kind matching allows smaller, rural departments with little or no budgets to maximize grant funds."

A committee made up of representatives from the contributing agencies, rural and metro fire departments, the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands and the State Fire Marshal's office review the applications and agree upon the final award amount.

Funds are awarded as a reimbursement and fire departments are given until Dec. 31 to use the funds. Unused funds are re-allocated in a second round of awards in January.