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

"Across Pennsylvania, 158 volunteer fire companies who serve rural areas and communities where forest and brush fires are common will benefit from these funds," Ferretti said. "To appreciate the value of well-equipped and highly trained wildfire fighters, one only has to look outside Pennsylvania to the horrific fires that sometimes plague other states."

Local firefighting forces in rural areas or communities with fewer than 10,000 residents qualify for the federal aid.

Last year, the grant program awarded $505,000 to 130 volunteer companies in Pennsylvania.

Grant recipients were named following review of fire company applications meeting a May 2014 deadline.

Grants and other assistance are provided through DCNR's Bureau of Forestry, with funding supplied by the US Department of Agriculture's Forest Service through the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978.

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 the 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 Co., Kempton, $7,500; Shartlesville Community Fire Co. No. 1, Shartlesville; $5,294;

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

Northampton: Diamond Fire Co., Walnutport, $1,590;

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

Call 717-787-2925 or visit dcnr.state.pa.us