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Wildfire Suppression Kits Distributed to Volunteer Fire Departments through Rural Fire Program

LITTLE ROCK, AR. – The Rural Fire Program, managed by the Arkansas Agriculture Department’s Forestry Commission (AFC), received $200,000 from the United States Forest Service to purchase and distribute 67 Wildfire Suppression Kits to statewide volunteer fire departments in 2018. Kits include equipment and gear necessary for the safe suppression of wildfires and will be delivered to selected volunteer fire departments through October.

Volunteer fire departments are the primary partner to AFC crews in wildfire response and suppression but often need the specialized equipment and gear necessary for safe wildfire suppression. Since 2014, more than 230 volunteer fire departments have received Wildfire Suppression Kits through the Rural Fire Program. Kits distributed this year include lightweight wildfire-resistant personal protective equipment, 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 equipment response needs, and other factors. The application period for the 2019 Wildfire Protection Kit program starts in September. Contact Kathryn Mahan-Hooten at Kathryn.Mahan@agriculture.arkansas.gov and (501) 679-3183 with questions or to be added to the Rural Fire Program email distribution list.

Fire departments selected to receive kits in 2018 are listed below by fire department and county:

Bald Knob/White
Fouke/Miller
Johnson County #6
Pea Ridge/Pope
Bayliss/Pope
Garner/White
Junction City/Union
Pettigrew/Madison
Berlin/Ashley
Genoa/Miller
Keo/Lonoke
Ponca/Newton
Birdtown/Conway
Gepp/Fulton
Lake Norrell/Saline
Rondo/Lee
Bismarck/Hot Springs
Gilmore/Crittenden
Langley/Pike
Rose Bud/White
Black Fork/Scott
Glenco/Fulton
Lee County
Saffell/Lawrence
Boggy Creek/Miller
Grange-Calamine/Lawrence
Leola/Grant
Salesville/Baxter
Bonnerdale/Hot Springs
Halley/Desha
Lodi/Pike
Scotland/Van Buren
Bruno/Marion
Heafer/Crittenden
Manila/Mississippi
Sulpher-Laverna/Montgomery
Carlisle/Lonoke
Hilltop/Faulkner
Mountain Springs/Lonoke
Spring Hill/Hempstead
Cato/Faulkner
Highfill/Benton
New Deroche/Hot Springs
Sugarloaf-Slatonville/Sebastian
Cornerville/Lincoln
Hindsville/Madison
New Edinburg/Cleveland
Swan Lake/Jefferson
County Line/Bradley
Holly Springs/Dallas
Northside/Independence
Wabbaseka/Jefferson
Crawford County #4
Horseshoe Bend/Izard
Northwest Scott/Scott
Trinity/Miller
Crawfordsville/Crittenden
Humnoke/Lonoke
Oak Hill/Little River
Yancy/Hempstead
Dover City/Pope
Jacksonport/Jackson
Ouachita Area/Dallas
Yarborough/Little River
Evening Shade/Sharp
Johnson County #1
Ozan Rural/Hempstead

2018-08-01T15:07:31+00:00 Jul 25th, 2018|In the News|