SD Fire Marshal To Reinstate Training Grants

More South Dakota residents will get the chance to learn about fire safety thanks to the return of the Firefighter Essentials Grant Program.

The state's Department of Public Safety has announced that the Fire Marshal's Office is reinstating the program, which will help fund 13 training programs across the state.

Fire Marshal Paul Merriman says in a statement that the program was eliminated because of budget concerns in 2010. To reinstate it, part of the revenue from the state's Fire Safe Cigarette fund is being set aside. The money will help defray expenses such as books, manuals and instructor fees that fire departments incur when they host a Firefighter Essentials class.