MONTGOMERY – Gov. Robert Bentley on Friday announced $67,762 is being awarded to volunteer fire departments that qualified for the Wildfire Response Grant.

In December, Governor Bentley announced that up to $100,000 would be available for reimbursements to departments for costs incurred during the response to wildfires across the state during the fall of 2016.

“Last fall I saw first-hand the impact of extreme drought conditions, resulting in Volunteer Fire Departments spending countless hours working together to de-escalate the fires that plagued the state of Alabama,” Bentley said. “I am pleased to award 40 volunteer fire departments for their tremendous response efforts. I hope that these need-based funds will help to alleviate some of the expenses incurred last year.”

The Alabama Emergency Management Agency partnered with the Alabama Forestry Commission to manage the grant program.

“The Alabama Forestry Commission values our partnership with the volunteer fire departments across the state of Alabama,” Interim State Forester Gary Cole said. “Their assistance was especially crucial to our efforts in battling the dangerous wildland fires during the extreme wildfire season of fall 2016. We are pleased that Governor Bentley is providing these VFDs with financial assistance to replenish funds they depleted during that time.”

Eligible reimbursable expenses for the grant included expenses for equipment use, repair and replacement; tools, materials and supplies; mobilization and demobilizations activities.