KINGDOM CITY - The North Callaway Fire Protection District was recently awarded a $3,000 matching grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation Forestry Division, Fire Chief Lana Karhoff said.
"We purchased two leaf blowers, an emergency light bar a fire truck and 40 sections of 11/2-inch hose," Karhoff said Friday.
Wildland Fire Program supervisor with the MDC said 174 fire departments are receiving checks this year to help with the purchase of personal protective gear, communications equipment and wildfire suppression equipment to help increase the departments' capacity to suppress wildfires safely and efficiently.
With severe drought creeping deeper into Callaway County and extreme drought inching into neighboring Boone County, according to the Missouri Drought Monitor map, having fire departments well-equipped to fight wildfires is essential.
Checks are for up to $4,000, with funding awarded to Missouri fire departments through this matching grant program totaling $389,603.
The NCFPD had to match 50 percent of the funds provided by the MDC's Volunteer Fire Assistance Program, which has distributed more than $8 million in funding over the last 30 years, Webster said. The program aids fire departments serving communities smaller than $10,000 people.