The Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday that nearly $350,000 in 50 percent cost-share grants were awarded to 105 Iowa rural fire departments to help their efforts to protect Iowans and their property from wildfire. Two Hamilton County fire departments will receive funding for the program. They are the Jewell and Kamrar Fire Departments. The grants offer valuable funding assistance for wildfire suppression, personal protective and communications equipment. Requests were received from 180 fire departments totaling over $565,000 in requests,showing a great need across rural Iowa. Since 2021 more than 500 grants have been awarded resulting in an investment of more than $1,612,000 in wildland fire preparedness throughout the state. The grants are made possible through Iowa DNR Forestry, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service-State and Private Forestry