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A Fire Equipment Handoff occurred on March 5, 2002, 1100 hrs at Cape Cod National Seashore South District Fire Cache, Marconi Station Area, South Wellfleet, MA.
Wildland Fire Equipment and Supplies* valued at $30,000 was distributed to the Fire Departments of Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown at a ceremony held at the Cape Cod National Seashore South District Fire Cache on March 5, 2002 at 1100 hrs.
Maria Burks, Superintendent Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS), Mike Murray, Deputy Superintendent CCNS, Kevin Fitzgerald, Chief Ranger CCNS, Jack Shields, Fire Program Assistant CCNS, Wellfleet Fire Chief Alan Hight, Truro Fire Chief E. Thomas Prada, Eastham Fire Chief Glen Olson, Provincetown District Chief James Roderick, Jr., Provincetown Fire Chief Michael Trovato, David Crary, Jr., CCNS Fire Management Officer, Provincetown District Chief Adam J.Wolf, Truro Town Administrator Bud Breault and Mark Forest, Mark Forest of Congressman Bill Delahunt's office, were in attendence.
*Included items such as: Personal Protective Equipment (fire resistant clothing, gloves, hardhats, fire shelters) chainsaws and chainsaw equipment, firefighting handtools, radio harnesses, backpack pumps, fire suppression foam and weather instruments.
Background Information
Of the 385 units of the National Park Service, at least 245 units experience wildland fires, either originating within the unit, or igniting outside and threatening the park. In particular, smaller NPS units such as the Cape Cod National Seashore require significant assistance from adjacent community fire departments to respond to wildland fires.
Historically, the NPS and Cape Cod National Seashore have had limited funding capability to assist local fire departments. However, the FY2001 Appropriations for the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies enabled the Seashore to participate in the pilot year of the Rural Fire Assistance Program.
The Rural Fire Assistance program is primarily designed to increase firefighter safety and enhance the fire protection capabilities of rural and community fire departments. This is achieved by assisting those departments in meeting or exceeding accepted standards of wildland fire qualifications, training and performance through equipment and supply purchases and training. Emphasis is placed on departments that protect rural communities and play a substantial cooperative role (agreed to under a written Cooperative Fire Agreement) with the NPS unit.
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