Baxter Fire Department to receive grant for wildland fire reporting

Nearly $416,000 in 50 percent cost-share grants were recently awarded to numerous Iowa rural fire departments to help their efforts to protect Iowans and their property from wildfires. The grants offer valuable funding assistance for wildfire suppression, personal protective and communications equipment.

Baxter was one of 138 fire departments that will receive a 2024 Volunteer Fire Assistance grant. These grants are made possible through Iowa DNR Forestry, in cooperation with US Forest Service 0151 State and Private Forestry.

Jason Walker, fire supervisor with DNR Forestry, reminds all fire departments of the importance of submitting Wildland Fire Reports whenever they respond to a wildland fire or provide assistance to a prescribed or controlled wildland fire. Wildland fire reporting forms are available atwww.iowadnr.gov/fire.

Departments returning these reports receive priority points when the Fire Assistance grant applications are scored. These wildland fire reports are compiled locally and nationally and are reported to Congress.