CHARLOTTE – The U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Service will distribute $3,600 to the Charlotte Volunteer Fire Department and $945 to the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department under the Department of the Interior Rural Fire Assistance Program.

The money will be used to purchase communication and personal protective equipment.

To qualify for this grant a fire department must have a cooperative relationship with the Department of the Interior agency, provide a minimum 10 percent cost share contribution, and serve a community that is located near forests.