Three Blair County volunteer fire companies are getting some help from Harrisburg when it comes to battling forest fires.
 
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources awarded more than $540,000 in grants Monday to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities guard against the threat of fires. The Pinecroft, Hollidaysburg Phoenix and Lakemont volunteer fire departments are three of the 141 fire companies sharing the grant money, which ranges from $3,300 to $4,700 each.
 
State officials say the key objective is to better equip and train volunteers to save lives and protect property in unprotected or inadequately protected rural areas. The grant money can be used for mobile or portable radios, water supply installations, wildfire prevention and mitigation, and wildfire fighting training.