TOPEKA, Kan. – The Office of the State Fire Marshal announced Thursday the first-ever recipients of grant funds through the Kansas Firefighter Recruitment and Safety Grant program. This program, made possible with the 2016 State of Kansas budget passed by the state Legislature and signed by Governor Sam Brownback, is aimed at assisting volunteer and part-time fire departments across the state with firefighter recruitment.

Grants issued through the Kansas Firefighter Recruitment and Safety Grant (KFRSG) program will cover the costs of safety gear for new firefighters, plus funds for the purchase of new washer-extractor machines used to clean bunker gear following a fire. Funds were also made available through this grant program for the creation of Junior Firefighter programs to attract youth volunteers into the fire service.

The South Hutchinson Volunteer Fire Department received $3,358