Hutchinson Fire Department receives grant for wildland firefighting equipment

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Fire Department has been awarded $4,999 through a 50/50 grant from the Kansas Forest Service to enhance its wildland firefighting capabilities.

The grant funds were used to purchase essential equipment including communications gear, hand tools and safety equipment specifically designed for wildland fire operations, according to a department social media post.

Fire officials expressed gratitude to the Kansas Forest Service for the financial support, which will bolster the department's ability to respond to brush and grassland fires in the region.

The 50/50 grant program, administered by the Kansas Forest Service, provides matching funds to help rural and municipal fire departments across the state acquire specialized equipment for wildland firefighting operations.

Details about the specific equipment purchased or the timeline for the grant award were not immediately available.

The Hutchinson Fire Department, which serves the city of approximately 40,000 residents in central Kansas, responds to both structural and wildland fires throughout Reno County.