Area fire departments get fire suppression kits

Several rural fire departments in Sevier and Nevada counties have received wildfire suppression kits from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Rural Fire Protection program. The program distributed 84 kits to rural volunteer fire departments this year, according to a news release from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Lockesburg, Horatio and Central fire departments in Sevier County received the kits, along with the Lanesburg and Rosston departments in Nevada County.

The Forestry Division received $272,000 from the U.S. Forest Service’s 2019 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant to purchase and distribute the kits, which feature equipment and gear necessary for the safe suppression of wildfires.

Volunteer fire departments are the primary partner to forestry crews in wildfire response and suppression but often need specialized equipment and gear. Since 2014, more than 375 volunteer fire departments in Arkansas have received wildfire suppression kits through the Rural Fire Protection program. Kits distributed this year include lightweight wildfire-resistant coveralls and gloves, hand rakes, backpack water pumps and leaf blowers.

Volunteer fire departments interested in participating in the wildfire suppression kit program should submit applications that are scored according to specific criteria, including fire district population, size of the response area, wildfire equipment response needs and other factors. The application period for next year’s program is expected to open this Aug. 17.

Fire departments can expect to receive an application for next year’s program in the mail or can find one 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.