Maple Rural Fire Department north of Muldrow will receive $25,638 of $139,322 in grants recently awarded to four fire departments in the 2nd Congressional District through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG), Congressman Brad Carson announced Wednesday.

Maple Fire Chief David Riggs said the department will use the money to buy 10 new fire suits, new pagers, and a K-12 saw, which can cut the roof out of a home or car.

Riggs said the items are needed, and right now they are using some hand-me-down fire suits from Oklahoma City.

Last year the fire department received a $76,000 grant to purchase a new fire truck, Riggs said.

Carson said the AFG program awards one-year grants directly to fire departments.

These funds provide direct assistance to firefi ghters to improve the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, and to establish or expand fire prevention programs in local fire departments throughout the country.

"I am very pleased to announce these critical grants to fire departments in eastern Oklahoma," Carson said.