The Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced this week that its Forestry-Fire Program is working with the U.S. Forest Service to offer grant money for rural fire departments.

Wildland Fire Assistance grants provide 50 percent reimbursement for wildland fire equipment with a maximum reimbursement of $4,500 per department. Wildfire suppression equipment includes slide-in units, hoses, nozzles, adapters, portable tanks and pumps, personal protective equipment, and communications equipment.

All Iowa volunteer fire departments should have received information about these grants in the mail, but the application package and Wildland Fire Report form are available at iowadnr.gov/fire.