The United States Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program has announced 7 fire departments including one in Crawford County, received grant monies totaling $292,675. Iowa Democratic Senator Tom Harkin announced the news in a press release today (Wednesday). The funds will be used to increase the effectiveness of fire operations and to support firefighter safety. The Manilla Fire Department received $22,474 in grant funds. The fire department will use the funding to replace old equipment, mainly hoses, with new.

The assistance to firefighters grant program places a particular emphasis on rural fire departments. At least 55 percent of the program’s funding must go to fire departments that use volunteer firefighters. This means that smaller towns are not competing against larger cities. Senator Harkin said in the press release, “This grant will allow these fire departments to improve and update operations and safety procedures to better assist Iowa’s citizens in need.”