The LeRoy and Blooming Prairie fire departments were two of 173 to receive a piece of the $372,000 in match grants from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant program.

LeRoy received $5,000 and Blooming Prairie received $2,500. The grant program provides financial and technical assistance to departments in cities or communities with populations less than 10,000. The objectives of the program are saving lives and protecting property in rural areas. Rural fire departments must use the grant money for fire protection and comply with existing state and county rural fire protection plans.

“Priority is given to fire departments that have the greatest need,” said Tom Romaine, DNR fire supervisor south, in a press release. “Additional considerations include the type of project, fire runs and number of previous years funded.”

More information on the DNR Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant program can be found at www.mndnr.gov/grants/ruralfire/volunteer.html.