Senate OKs Bill to Raise Operational Grants for Rural Fire Departments

State Senators voted Wednesday to raise the annual operational grants for Oklahoma’s 874 rural fire departments to $5,000. Senate Bill 1735 by Senators Jeff Rabon and Frank Shurden on a 46-0 vote

“Rural firefighters have been nothing short of heroic as they’ve battled the wildfires that have ravaged our state for the last four months. By increasing the operational grants, we are giving our rural fire departments additional resources that will allow them to be better equipped should the devastation we’ve faced this year repeat itself in the future,” Rabon said.

Grants were increased to $2,780 in the Fiscal Year 2006 budget. The measure passed Wednesday would complete an effort to more than double the grants over the last two years.

“For most rural fire departments this year’s operational money provided by the state ran out a long time ago. Cash-strapped rural fire departments need these funds to pay for things like gasoline and repairs to their equipment,” said Shurden, D-Henryetta.

Rabon, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee on Natural Resources and Regulatory Services, said he also hopes to negotiate with the House of Representatives for an appropriation to a revolving fund that would provide grants and low-interest loans allowing rural fire departments to replace
old and worn out equipment.

“Many departments are using Korean War surplus equipment to protect our homes, schools, farms and churches. Our rural fire departments often operate on shoe string budgets and replacing this equipment is expensive. We need to find a way to provide assistance that will allow these fire departments to be better equipped to protect our families and property,” Rabon said.

“Rural fire departments are the first line of defense for our communities. To provide anything less than the best possible equipment would be irresponsible,” Shurden said.