Ind. fire departments receive $1.4M in US grants

INDIANAPOLIS — Eight Indiana fire departments have received a total of $1.4 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Sen. Dick Lugar's office announced Thursday that the Gary, East Chicago and Westfield fire departments received operations and safety grants from the federal agency, as did the Union Lakeville Fire Territory in Lakeville, the Decatur Township Fire Department in Indianapolis, the Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department in Henry County and the Fairview Park Volunteer Fire Department in Clinton. The grants range in size up to $458,000 for the Gary department.

The Patricksburg Community Volunteer Fire Department in Owen County received nearly $290,000 to buy vehicles.

The grants are awarded on a competitive basis to rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the U.S.