Jackson County fire departments will use $133,000 in rural fire assistance grants to better protect residents living near wildlife refuges.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services awarded the grants. They will be used to improve wildfire protection for residents living near the Mississippi Sandhill Crane and Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuges.

Some of the money will be used to provide wildfire training to local firefighters. Another portion will be used to pay for new firefighting equipment and protective gear.