Storm Lake Pilot Tribune: Local News: Alta receives grant from Department of Natural Resources (11/19/09)

The new firestation is currently under construction on Lake Street. A drawing provided by architects FEH of Sioux City shows the six-bay structure will include a training room, two restrooms, kitchen, office, storage areas and a fitness center.

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AMES -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forestry Bureau, in cooperation with U.S. Forest Service - State and Private Forestry, has awarded $232,389 in 50 percent cost-share grants to 102 rural Iowa fire departments, including Alta, to help protect Iowan's and their property from wildfires. The grants offer valuable funding assistance for wildfire suppression equipment, personal protective equipment, and communications equipment.

Alta Fire Chief Gary Molgaard said the department is required to purchase equipment with the funds. Including the matching funds, $3,300 worth of equipment including pagers, a hose and fire-safe gloves, was able to be purchased.

Gail Kantak, fire supervisor with the Iowa DNR's Forestry Bureau, said the following fire departments were notified that their 2009 Volunteer Fire Assistance grant requests have been approved: Adel, Amana, Anamosa, Ashton, Battle Creek, Belmond, Birmingham, Bode, Brighton, Buffalo Center, Charles City, Conrad, Corwith, Cresco, Creston, Cushing, Decorah, Denver, Donnellson, Dow City, Dows, Duncombe, Elberon, Epworth, Fayette and Floyd.

Also Garnavillo, Greeley, Grinnell, Griswold, Guthrie Center, Guttenberg, Hanlontown, Harpers Ferry, Hartford, Houghton, Humeston, Ionia, Ireton, Jewell, Keota, Keswick, Lamotte, Lansing, Laurens, Lime Springs, Lohrville, Lone Rock, Manchester, Manning, Mapleton, McClelland, Melbourne, Mondamin, Montpelier, Morley, Morning Sun and Moulton.

Also Nashua, New Hartford, Newhall, Nichols, Nora Springs, North English, Northwood, Oakland, Ossian, Otho, Oxford Junction, Pacific Junction, Peterson, Postville, Protivin, Quimby, Randolph, Readlyn, Riceville, Rockford, Rockwell City and Russell.

Also Saint Olaf, Sigourney, Solon, Spirit Lake, Stanhope, Stout, Stratford, Strawberry Point, Stuart, Superior, Swea City, Tama, Tiffin, Ventura, Villisca, Wallingford, Wapello, Waukon, West Branch, West Union and Woodward.

Kantak said it is important for all fire departments to submit 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.com/forestry/fire.html Departments actively returning these reports receive priority points when the Volunteer Fire Assistance grant applications are scored. These wildland fire reports are compiled locally and nationally and are reported to Congress.