Maine Forest Service: 103 Fire Departments Receive 2011 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants

AUGUSTA, Maine - A total of 103 rural fire departments have been awarded $126,814 in Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grant funds to purchase much-needed firefighting equipment.

The funds are provided by the USDA Forest Service and administered by the Maine Forest Service, Forest Protection Division, under the Maine Department of Conservation. The funding will be used to buy wildland fire personal protective equipment, basic suppression tools, dry-hydrants, foam, pumps and communications equipment, according to MFS officials.

The grants pay for one-half of the cost of the new equipment. The grants range from several hundred dollars to $3,000.

"During challenging economic times, this funding is critical to help provide needed wildland fire equipment to Maine's rural, mostly volunteer, fire departments," Doug Denico, Maine Forest Service director, said. "We are pleased to be able to provide these grants to those departments that help us protect our Maine forests and residences near woodlands."

The Maine Forest Service, Forest Protection Division, also administers the Federal Excess Property Program (FEPP) program for local fire departments by loaning them surplus firefighting equipment from the U.S. Department of Defense. This equipment is used primarily for wildfire suppression and ranges from water tenders, also known as tank trucks, to trailers for hauling wildland firefighting equipment and specially equipped brush trucks/engines.

So far this year the Maine Forest Service has obtained more than $850,000 of excess DOD property that is available for fire departments. Without this program, many small towns would not have sufficient funding to purchase these vehicles. In the event of a large wildfire, the Maine Forest Service also can request these vehicles to work on fires in areas other than where they are stored and maintained. Maine fire chiefs should contact their local MFS forest ranger for more information on this program.

The following communities received VFA awards: Fire Department: County: Amount Received: Alna Fire Department Lincoln $2,837.50
Albion Fire Department Kennebec $2,450
Alton Fire Department Penobscot $1,068.17
Anson Fire Department Somerset $1,467.85
Arrowsic Fire Department Sagadahoc $269
Ashland Fire Department Aroostook $904.50
Baileyville Fire Department Washington $900
Bowdoin Fire Department Sagadahoc $670
Bridgewater Fire Department Aroostook $1,480
Bridgton Fire Department Cumberland $3,000
Brooklin Fire Department Hancock $1,000
Brooks Fire Department Waldo $1,093.02
Brooksville Fire Department Hancock $1,27.73
Bucksport Fire Department Hancock $1,570
Caribou Fire Department Aroostook $1,063
Charlotte Fire Department Washington $2,135
Chelsea Fire Department Kennebec $234.98
Cliff Island Fire Company Cumberland $585
Cooper Fire Department Washington $675
Corinth Fire Department Penobscot $836
Cushing's Island Fire Company Cumberland $1,025
Denmark Fire Department Oxford $1,600
Detroit Fire Department Somerset $1,336.30
Durham Fire Department Androscoggin $664
East Millinocket Fire Department Penobscot $789.50
Eddington Fire Department Penobscot $1,165
Eliot Fire Department York $950
Ellsworth Fire Department Hancock $1,435
Fayette Fire Department Kennebec $1,570
Fort Fairfield Fire Department Aroostook $1,115
Fort Kent Fire Department Aroostook $3,000
Frankfort Fire Department Waldo $460
Friendship Fire Department Knox $1,803.72
Gardiner Fire Department Kennebec $1,000
Glenburn Fire Department Penobscot $700
Grand Isle Fire Department Aroostook $1,792.48
Gray Fire Department Cumberland $675
Great Diamond Fire Company Cumberland $660
Hampden Fire Department Penobscot $225.98
Haynesville Fire Department Aroostook $1,000
Hermon Fire Department Penobscot $760
Hodgdon Fire Department Aroostook $1,836
Holden Fire Department Penobscot $1,142.78
House Island Fire Company Cumberland $407.50
Hudson Fire Department Penobscot $1,110
Island Falls Fire Department Aroostook $1,189.75
Isleboro Fire Department Waldo $1,775
Jackman - Moose River Fire Department Somerset $950
Jonesboro Fire Department Washington $1,185
Lamoine Fire Department Hancock $746.92
Lebanon Fire Department York $1,558.60
Levant Fire Department Penobscot $2,597.50
Liberty Fire Department Waldo $916.48
Limestone Fire Department Aroostook $940
Limington Fire and Rescue York $1,000
Lisbon Fire Department Androscoggin $807
Litchfield Fire Department Kennebec $2,951.50
Little Diamond Island Fire Company Cumberland $1,470
Littleton Fire Department Aroostook $2,098.50
Livermore Fire Department Androscoggin $1,071.87
Lovell Fire Department Oxford $2,951.81
Madison Fire Department Somerset $1,444.73
Mariaville Fire Department Hancock $375
Mars Hill Fire Department Aroostook $556.66
Matinicus Island Fire Department Knox $1,012
Meddybemps Fire Department Washington $560.70
Milbridge Fire Department Washington $740.04
Monroe Fire Department Waldo $390
Montville Fire Department Waldo $459
Mount Vernon Fire Department Kennebec $898
Naples Fire Department Cumberland $2,400
Newburgh Fire Department Penobscot $1,224.50
North Lakes Fire and Rescue Aroostook $1,541.49
North Yarmouth Fire Department Cumberland $2,966.50
Passadumkeag Fire Department Penobscot $640
Patten Fire Department Penobscot $2,974.50
Peaks Island Fire Company Cumberland $1,137.50
Phillips Fire Department Franklin $1,476.45
Pittston Fire Department Kennebec $1,129.75
Plymouth Fire Department Penobscot $1,300
Presque Isle Fire Department Aroostook $1,106.50
Rome Fire Department Kennebec $2,221.83
Sabattus Fire Department Androscoggin $549
Sangerville Fire Department Piscataquis $800
Searsmont Fire Department Waldo $1,050
Searsport Fire Department Waldo $630.50
Sebec Fire Department Piscataquis $841.50
Somerville Fire Department Lincoln $491
St. Francis Fire Department Aroostook $500
Stockton Springs Fire Department Waldo $724.96
Strong Fire Department Franklin $2,186
Swan's Island Fire Department Hancock $1,765
Sweden Fire Department Oxford $400
Thorndike Fire Department Waldo $1,500
Van Buren Fire Department Aroostook $1,113.50
Washburn Fire Department Aroostook $1,443
Wayne Fire Department Kennebec $1,172.50
West Frankfort Fire Department Waldo $1,155
Whiting Fire Department Washington $467.50
Wilton Fire Department Franklin $1,641
Winthrop Fire Department Kennebec $1,660
Woodstock Fire Department Oxford $1,866.67
Yarmouth Fire Department Cumberland $412.50
For more information about the Volunteer Fire Assistance grant program or the Federal Excess Property Program, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/fpd/pages/programs.htm

For more information about the Maine Forest Service, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/index.shtml