The Wolf administration announced on Tuesday its pledge to grant $762,000 to rural fire departments.

The grants, which are meant to increase protection against potential wildfires, were awarded to local firefighting forces in communities with fewer than 10,000 people. Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department was amongst the recipients of the largest grants in Lycoming County.

The fire department received $12,500, which they plan to invest in a new radio system.

“This radio project that the county is undergoing along the way is going to be very expensive to us, and we’re seeking grant money for anything we can find to purchase radios,” said Daniel Dorman, Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department chief. “The county is upgrading the radio system. And because of that upgrade and the way the frequencies are going to be dealt with, our older radios won’t function with that new system. So they’re not that old. It’s just they’re not going to be functional with the new radios.”

Hughesville Fire Chief Dan Dorman holds one of the new radios at the firehouse Sept. 16, 2022. The department has applied for a grant to get new radios to help fight wildfires. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Radios and communication are essential for the safety of firefighters in the field and to those potentially fighting wildfires.

“It’s communication between us and our dispatch center as well as an operational tool so we can communicate on the fire ground. So it’s a safety issue as well as a central issue to get our dispatch information,” Dorman said. “There’s been many documented cases where firefighters have been either injured or killed in wildland firefighting, and communication’s essential when events are happening related to the fire as well as being able to seek help if you get in trouble,” Dorman said.

“We are grateful to those who help fight brush and forest fires across the commonwealth and are pleased to support these critical efforts to protect our public lands from wildfires,” said John Norbeck, deputy secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, according to a news release. “Ensuring we have well-equipped and highly trained wildfire fighters is key in protecting our forests and wilds from wildfires, whether they are human-caused and naturally occurring.”

This season’s rain scarcity is among some of the concerns surrounding the state’s call for preparation.

“It goes without saying that rain has been scarce this year for many parts of the state, as well as wider regions throughout the country,” acting State Fire Commissioner Charles McGarvey said, according to the news release. “It’s easy to forget that the men and women that respond to these incidents are our neighbors, family members, and friends, and they come to the fire service with a variety of skill levels and backgrounds. Grant programs like these are essential financial pipelines that back their professional development and provide needed equipment and supplies so that firefighters can safely and successfully complete their missions,” according to the press release.

Other companies in Lycoming county receiving the grant include Muncy Township Volunteer Fire Co., Pennsdale; Independent Hose Co. No. 1, Jersey Shore — $1,907; Eldred Township Volunteer Fire Co., Montoursville — $2,552; and Woodward Township Volunteer Fire Co., Linden — $3,900.

A number of fire departments in Bradford, Clinton, Sullivan and Tioga counties also received the grant: Leraysville Pike Volunteer Fire Dept., Leraysville — $3,700; Chapman Township Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, North Bend — $$6,250; Woolrich Volunteer Fire Co., Lock Haven — $5,097; Hillsgrove Volunteer Fire Co., Hillsgrove — $1,535; Forksville Volunteer Fire Co., Forksville — $4,240; Blossburg Volunteer Fire Dept., Blossburg — $2,374; Mansfield Hose Co., Mansfield — $10,000.