State distributes $3.87 million to rural firefighters
BY BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
Friday, August 10, 2012
8/10/12 at 3:28 PM
Continuing coverage: Read more on the state wildfires here.
OKLAHOMA CITY -- More than $3.87 million in operational grants to fund 863 rural fire departments across the state have been distributed, state officials announced Friday.
The Oklahoma Legislature funded the grants, which were authorized by Gov. Mary Fallin.
The grants help departments in communities with a population of under 10,000 people and can be used for a variety of needs.
"With wildfires having devastated huge portions of the state in the last several days, many rural fire departments are low on resources and in need of help," Fallin said. "These grants will help replace broken equipment and supply firefighters with the resources they need to do their jobs safely. We support our firefighters 100 percent and stand behind them as they work to protect Oklahoma families and communities from the threat of wildfires."
Associated Images:
A Prue firefighter battles a blaze as fire nears homes in the area of Highway 48 and W 31st Street in Mannford last week. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
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