LITTLE ROCK, AR Eight fire departments in north central Arkansas will benefit after the Rural Fire Protection program, managed by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division, received $279,562 as part of the 2021 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant from the United States Forest Service to purchase and distribute 87 Wildfire Suppression Kits to rural volunteer fire departments. The kits include equipment and gear necessary for the safe suppression of wildfires and have been delivered to the volunteer fire departments.
The departments in the area that will benefit include Norfork and Big Flat in Baxter County, Rea Valley in Marion County, Oxley and Welcome Home in Searcy County, Fox in Stone County, Capps-Batavia in Boone County and Parthenon in Newton County.
Volunteer fire departments are the primary partner to Forestry crews in wildfire response and suppression but often need the specialized equipment and gear necessary for safe wildfire suppression. Since 2014, 579 volunteer fire departments have received Wildfire Suppression Kits through the Rural Fire Protection program. Kits distributed this year include lightweight wildfire-resistant coveralls and gloves, hand rakes, back-pack water pumps, and leaf blowers.
Volunteer fire departments interested in participating in the Wildfire Suppression Kit program submit applications that are scored according to specific criteria including fire district population, the size of the response area, wildfire response equipment needs, and other factors. The application period for next years Wildfire Protection Kit program is expected to start in August of 2022. Fire Departments can expect to receive notification in the mail, or can find an application online at agriculture.arkansas.gov/forestry/rural-fire-protection-program/ when the application period opens. Fire Departments may contact Kathryn Mahan-Hooten at Kathryn.Mahan@agriculture.arkansas.gov or (501) 679-3183 with questions regarding the application.
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