Arkansas agency taking applications for Wildfire Suppression Kits until Oct. 4

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division is now accepting applications for the Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant for Wildfire Suppression Kits until October 4.

More than 80 Wildfire Suppression Kits will be awarded this year across the state to rural volunteer fire departments. More than 300 kits have been distributed since 2014.

Volunteer Fire Departments are the Forestry Division’s primary partner in wildfire response and suppression. The kits will provide volunteer fire departments the specialized equipment needed for safe suppression, including up to 10 wildfire-resistant coveralls, 10 pairs of wildland gloves, two backpack leaf blowers, two collapsible backpack water pumps, and six leaf rakes.

Rural volunteer fire departments interested in applying may submit an application to their district forester. Applications are scored according to specific criteria to include the population of the fire district, the number of square miles covered, the average number of wildfires a department responds to annually, and other factors. The selected departments will be notified in October, and kits will be delivered in March 2020.

The program is administered by the Forestry Division’s Rural Fire Protection office, with funding provided by the United States Forest Service. Additional information and the application can be found at agriculture.arkansas.gov/rural-fire-program. For more information or to be added to the rural fire program email distribution list, contact Kathryn Mahan-Hooten at kathryn. mahan@agriculture.arkansas.gov or at 501-679-3183.

The AAD is dedicated to the development and implementation of policies and programs for Arkansas agriculture and forestry to keep its farmers and ranchers competitive in national and international markets while ensuring safe food, fiber, and forest products for the citizens of the state and nation.