Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service has awarded Volunteer Fire Assistance grants to 55 volunteer fire departments in 18 counties across the state this year.
The funding helps volunteer fire companies enhance wildland fire protection in rural communities.
In 2024, 64 volunteer fire departments from 18 counties applied for funding assistance to help pay for $403,686 worth of projects. The Maryland Forest Service awarded $159,234 in match funding to help complete $331,551 in project costs statewide. The maximum grant awarded was $3,500 per department. Funds are provided by the USDA Forest Service.
2024 Volunteer Fire Assistance grant recipients by county, along with the grant amount and total project cost in parentheses, are:
Allegany County
Baltimore Pike Vol. Fire Company Inc.
$3,500
($7,458.07)
Barton Hose Company No.1 Inc.
3,500
($7,002)
Bedford Road Volunteer Fire Department Inc.
$1,275
($2,550)
Bowman’s Addition Volunteer Fire Company Inc.
$2,455
($4,910)
Broden Shaft Volunteer Fire Company No. 1
$3,500
($7,125)
Corriganville Volunteer Fire Company
$3,500
($7,265.80)
Ellerslie Volunteer Fire Company Inc.
$3,500
($10,000)
Flintstone Volunteer Fire Company
$3,000
($6,000)
Good Will Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 Inc.
$3,175
($6,350)
LaVale Volunteer Fire Department Inc.
3,400
($6,800)
Midland Volunteer Fire Company
$2,698
($5,395)
Mt.Savage Volunteer Fire Department
$3,207
($6413.68)
Orleans Volunteer Fire Company
$3,484
($6,967.96)
Potomac Fire Company No. 2 Inc.
$1,250
($2,500)
Rawlings Volunteer Fire Department
$3,500
($7,000)
Baltimore County
Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department of Baltimore County Inc.
$3,100
($6,200)
Maryland Line Volunteer Fire Company
$450
($900)
Caroline County
Goldsboro VFC Inc.
$3,500
($7,395)
Carroll County
Hampstead Volunteer Fire Company
$2,500
($5,000)
Lineboro Volunteer Fire Department
$3,066
($6,132)
Manchester Volunteer Fire Engine and Hook and Ladder Company No. 1
$3,500
($10,809)
Winfield Community Volunteer Fire Department
$2,518
($5,035)
Cecil County
Hacks Point Fire Company
$2,800
($5,600)
North East Fire Company Inc.
$3,263
($6,525)
Water Witch Fire Company, Incorporated
$3,500
($7,709.80)
Charles County
Cobb Island Volunteer Fire Department and EMS Inc.
$3,500
($7,699)
Tenth District Volunteer Fire Department
$2,350
($4,700)
Dorchester County
East New Market Volunteer Fire Department
$3,470
($6,939)
Eldorado-Brookview Volunteer Fire Department
$3,033
($6,065.70)
Hurlock Volunteer Fire Company Inc.
$3,136
($6,271.79)
Lakes and Straits Volunteer Fire Company
$3,356
($6,710.11)
Neck District Volunteer Fire Company Inc.
$3,500
($7,500)
Secretary Volunteer Fire Company Inc.
$3,490
($6,979.45)
Garrett County
Bittinger Volunteer Fire Department
$3,500
($7,000)
Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Company
$3,500
($8,582.50)
Eastern Garrett Volunteer Rescue and Fire Department
$3,500
($7,000)
Gorman Volunteer Fire Department
$1,268
($2,535)
Harford County
Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company
$3,500
($7,500)
Whiteford Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.
$625
($1,250)
Kent County
Galena Volunteer Fire Company
$1,950
($3,900)
Queen Anne’s County
Church Hill Volunteer Fire Company Inc.
$1,350
($2,700)
Queen Anne Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Company
$1,055
($2,109.50)
St. Mary’s County
Second District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad Inc.
$3,473
($6,945)
Washington County
Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Company Inc.
$3,434
(6,866.04)
Community Volunteer Fire Company of District 12
$1,348
($2,695.21)
First Hose Company of Boonsboro
$3,500
(7,000)
Hancock Fire Co. Inc.
$3,500
($7,500)
Leitersburg Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.
$3,500
($7,199.50)
Mt. Aetna Volunteer Fire Department Inc.
$3,500
($7,101)
Potomac Valley Fire Company Inc.
$3,000
($6,000)
Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Company Inc.
3,500
($7,250)
Williamsport Volunteer Fire and Emergency Medical Services
$2,975
($5,950)
Wicomico County
Hebron Volunteer Fire Department Inc
$2,875
($5,750)
Pittsville Volunteer Fire Department Inc.
$2,872
($5,744)
Worcester County
Girdletree Volunteer Fire Company
$2,533
($5,065)