Sept. 05--The Cherokee Nation will give about $455,000 to area volunteer fire departments Friday at the tribe's annual volunteer firefighter appreciation banquet.
About $3,500 each will go to 129 volunteer fire departments in the Cherokee Nation's 14-county jurisdiction, according to an announcement Wednesday.
The gifts will be presented at an appreciation dinner at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa in Catoosa with tribal officials and representatives from the fire departments.
The donations will help with costs for fuel, protective gear and other equipment, according to the release.
The Cherokee Nation will also recog- nize five volunteer firefighters as "Firefighters of the Year" and two departments as "Volunteer Fire Departments of the Year," according to the announcement.
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