A host of local fire departments are getting new equipment thanks to a grant from the forestry service.

The Friendly, Bush River, Silverstreet, Chappells and Prosperity fire departments received the grants that require a 50 percent match.

“We were awarded $3,195, which the Prosperity Fire Department must match giving us $6,390 to purchase equipment,“ explains Prosperity firefighter Robert Dennis, who writes grants for the station.

The Prosperity firefighters will use the grant to purchase protective clothing to fight wood and grass fires. The department will also buy walkie-talkies, water packs and hand tools to better combat wood and grass fires.

“This type of personal protective clothing is more lightweight compared to the bunker gear used to fight structure fires,“ said Dennis. “This is also the first grant that the Prosperity Fire Department has received, but is not the first we have put in for. We have continued to reach out to grants and foundations for support, as we have tried to save money for our taxpayers and county government. The Prosperity Fire Department will continue its duty to reach out for grants and support as we continue to provide a very valuable service to our community and Newberry County.“

Friendly Fire Department received $2,655 from the Wildland Fire Grant for a total of $5,310. The department will use the money to buy wildland fire gear for fighting wildfires, according to Friendly member Curtis Wicker.

The Silverstreet Fire Department received $1,900, which gives it a total of $3,800 to spend.

Silverstreet Fire Chief Craig Kesler says his department will purchase chain saws, a pump for its brush truck and protective clothing to fight grass and wood fires.

The Bush River Fire Department will spend $3,500 after getting a match of $1,750 from the Forestry Service.

Bush River Chief Blair Long says the department will purchase gear, two chainsaws and four pagers through the grant.

The Chappells Fire Department will be able to spend $2,956 after receiving $1,478 through the matching grant.

Chappells firefighter and grant writer G. W. Berry says the department will use the money to rework its brush truck.

In total, the Forestry Service has allocated $8,323 to Newberry County departments this year.