The Ventura County Fire Department recently received two grants from the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company.

The fire department has received more than $120,000 in grant money from Fireman's Fund during the last two years through the company's philanthropic mission of supporting local fire departments across the country.

The grant program is designed to provide equipment, training and educational tools to local fire departments.

The newest donation commemorates a grant made possible through the efforts of one of Fireman's Fund's independent insurance brokers, C.M. Meiers Co. of Woodland Hills.

A $20,000 donation from Meiers was used to pay for the production, printing and mailing of the department's 2008 edition of the Wildfire Action Plan brochure and the purchase of a fire extinguisher training system that uses laser technology.

The second grant was from the Olympic Insurance Company, an independent insurance agency based in Burbank.

The grant was for more than $5,000 and will be used to buy equipment and provide training for Community Emergency Response Team volunteers in serving Simi Valley.

"These grants are a tremendous benefit to the fire department and the people we serve," said Fire Chief Bob Roper. "They allow us to go above and beyond what we are budgeted to do and add an extra layer of service for the public. We are tremendously grateful for what Fireman's Fund and their agents have done for us and the county."