(1) GRANTS. The department shall establish a program to award grants for up to 50 percent of the cost of acquiring fire resistant clothing for suppressing fires, of acquiring fire suppression supplies, equipment, and vehicles, of acquiring fire prevention materials, and of training fire fighters in forest fire suppression techniques.
(2) ELIGIBILITY.
(a) Cities, villages, towns, counties and fire suppression organizations shall be eligible for grants under this section.
(b) The department may not award a grant under this section unless the recipient of the grant enters into a written agreement with the department under which the recipient agrees to assist the department in the suppression of forest fires at the department’s request.
(2m) FIRE SUPPRESSION PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM SOYBEANS. The purchase of a product derived from soybeans to be used as a fire suppression material is an eligible cost for grants under this section.
(3) RULES. The department shall promulgate rules establishing criteria and procedures for awarding grants under this section. For purposes of this section, the rules shall include a definition of “fire suppression organizations”.