Department of Conservation Natural Resources Secretary Ellen Ferretti has announced $590,000 in grants were awarded to help Pennsylvania's rural communities guard against the threat of fires in forests and other undeveloped areas.

Grants also were awarded for mobile or portable radios, water supply installations, wildfire prevention and mitigation, wildfire fighting training, and to convert and maintain federal excess vehicles the bureau receives and uses for fire suppression.

Grants for any project during a fiscal year cannot exceed 50 percent of actual expenditures. The maximum grant awarded was $7,500.

Aid is granted on a cost-share basis, with recipients supplying matching funds. The bureau will begin accepting 2015 applications next spring.

The following grants were awarded:

Berks: Kempton Fire Company, Kempton, $7,500;

Lehigh: Community Fire Company of New Tripoli, $3,750; Goodwill Fire Company No. 1, Germansville; $2,771;

Information can be obtained from the Bureau of Forestry Division of Forest Fire Protection in Harrisburg.

Call 717-787-2925or go to dcnr.state.pa.us