The Harlan City Fire Department was awarded a $250,000 Community Wildfire Defense Grant, which will help the city address wildfire risks in areas near the woods.
The funds will be used for home hazard assessments, software to assess fire risk, and upgrades to the department’s vehicle fleet, including GPS equipment.
Fire Chief James Billings outlined the department’s plans to begin house assessments on November 1 and seek additional grants.
Mayor Joe Meadors praised the fire department, noting how rare it is for a small city like Harlan to receive such a grant.