Area fire departments are receiving funds under the Missouri Department of Conservation’s matching program.
In all, 182 departments will receive up to $3,000 to help purchase personal protective gear and firefighting equipment. About $376,748 will be distributed.
Fire departments are required to match these funds that are provided by the U.S. Forest Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation.
During the last 26 years, about $5.1 million has been dispersed to rural fire departments, said Bill Altman, forest field program supervisor – fire with the conservation department.
i.d. – Leonard Newby, resource technician with the conservation department, and Lester Bates, Huggins Fire Department chief.
Kyle Hall, president of the Houston Rural Fire Department with Leonard Newby, resource technician with the conservation department.