Nevada County VFDs 2019 Kit Recipients

LITTLE ROCK – The Rural Fire Protection program, managed by the Arkansas Department of
Agriculture’s Forestry Division, distributed 84 Wildfire Suppression Kits to rural volunteer fire
departments this year. That number included kits to the Laneburg and Rosston Volunteer Fire Departments.

The Forestry Division received $272,000 from the United States Forest Service’s 2019 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant to purchase and distribute the kits that 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 the specialized equipment and gear necessary for safe wildfire suppression.
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, 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
next year’s Wildfire Protection Kit program is expected to open August 17, 2020.

Fire Departments can expect to receive an application for next year’s program in the mail, or can find
one online at www.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.