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Rural fire departments across the state are receiving Oklahoma Operational Assistance Grants in the amount of $3,817.42 to assist with expenses such as firefighting equipment maintenance and purchases, insurance premiums and personal protective equipment.

This year???s funding is being provided to 861 fire departments across the state that serve communities with populations of less than 10,000. The funds will be sent to fire departments electronically, as required by law, and made in two payments of $1908.71 this year. These funds are approved by Governor Fallin, appropriated by the state legislature and administered by Oklahoma Forestry Services. The operational grant funds have been awarded to the state???s rural fire departments since the 1980???s with the intention to help them with the cost of day-to-day expenses.

???We appreciate that the legislature is continuing to make rural fire departments a priority, despite significant state budget cuts,??? said George Geissler, director of Oklahoma Forestry Services. ???These fire departments do an excellent job of protecting their communities and it is vital that they have the equipment they need. This isn???t a large amount of money, but it can make a big difference to a small fire department.???

Oklahoma Forestry Services is the state???s lead agency for wildland fire fighting and works with rural fire departments across the state to coordinate fire suppression efforts, provide training and improve fire capacity.

For a complete list of the fire departments that are being awarded operational grants and for more information visit Oklahoma Forestry Services??? website at http://www.forestry.ok.gov/rfd-operational-assistance-grants .