State assists rural areas in fight against wildland fires
Rural fire departments in Miller and Howard counties are receiving wildland fire suppression kits from the Rural Fire Protection Program, managed by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division.
The program is awarding 87 suppression kits to rural fire departments across 46 counties in Arkansas. The RFP received $303,904.30 through the Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant from the United States Forest Service to purchase the kits, according to a news release from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
Doddridge and Bright Star Fire Departments in Miller County are receiving the kits, along with Athens and Mineral Springs Fire Departments in Howard County.
Volunteer fire departments are the primary partner to Forestry Division crews in wildfire response and suppression, but they are often in need of specialized equipment and gear necessary for safe wildfire suppression. Since 2014, more than 757 wildland fire suppression kits have been distributed to volunteer fire departments throughout the state, according to the news release. The necessary equipment and gear in the kits include lightweight wildfire-resistant coveralls, gloves, rakes and leaf blowers.
Volunteer fire departments interested in participating in the program must submit an application to the RFP. The applications are scored according to specific criteria including fire district population, the size of the response area, wildfire equipment response needs and other factors. The next application period is expected to begin in August 2024.
Fire departments should receive an application by mail, or they can be found at agriculture.arkansas.gov/forestry/rural-fire-protection-program/ when the application period opens. For more information, fire departments should contact Kathryn Mahan-hooten at kathryn.mahan@agriculture.arkansas.gov or 501-679-3183.