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Through the Rural Fire Assistance Program,
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument purchased 10 complete
sets of Wildland Firefighting clothing and protective gear
including coats, pants, boots, helmets, gloves and goggles
totaling $5,000 for the MacIntosh Fire Department (MFD). “The
grant, made available through our partnership with Salinas
Pueblo Missions National Monument has proved to be a significant
contribution to our annual budget," stressed MacIntosh Fire
Department Chief, Randal Arnold.
The Rural Fire Assistance Program is one
of several components of the National Fire Plan introduced
as a result of the devastating wild land fire season of 2000.
The purpose of the Rural Fire Assistance program is to improve
firefighter safety and enhance the wild land fire protection
capabilities of rural and volunteer fire departments when
responding to wild land fires. One of the program goals is
to enhance the effectiveness of wild land fire protection
on lands adjacent to National Park Service units. The National
Park Service may provide technical assistance, materials,
training supplies, and equipment. They can also participate
in interagency prevention and educational activities on a
cost-share basis. The maximum cost-share basis is 90/10, with
the cooperator responsible for the lesser. Cooperator contributions
may be in the form of in-kind service or dollars. Emphasis
is placed on departments that protect rural communities and
play a substantial cooperative role in the protection of National
Park Service lands. Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument,
comprising 1000 acres of land, falls within the MacIntosh
Fire Department’s primary response area and the MFD
in some cases has primary responsibility for initial attack
on this land. Because of the partnership the MFD met the minimum
eligibility criteria under the guidelines for implementation.
Salinas Pueblo Missions’ Superintendent
Glenn Fulfer was pleased to be able to help the community,
“MacIntosh’s Fire Department has a long and distinguished
history of service to not only MacIntosh but other nearby
towns and villages as well. We are all indebted to them for
their willingness to risk their own personal safety to save
the lives and property of others. The National Park Service
is proud to be a partner with the MacIntosh Fire Department
and will continue to seek funding to purchase state-of-the
art fire suppression and personal safety equipment for their
use."
Last year, Marc LeFrancois, one of the Monument’s
Wildland Firefighters working with Chief; Randal Arnold (MSD)
submitted the grant proposal through the Department of Interior,
National Park Service Rural Fire Assistance Program. “We
requested $5,000 to purchase protective equipment to support
fire suppression efforts by the MacIntosh Volunteer Fire Department
on lands at or near the urban interface between the National
Park Service and the community," said Firefighter LeFrancois.
From this request the Fire Department received the $5,000
to purchase the equipment.
Currently, there is no stipulation limiting
rural volunteer fire departments from applying each year for
Rural Fire Assistance. The awards vary each year. The amount
of monies awarded depend on local priorities, the number of
departments applying and the funding available. In 2003, the
park received $4,000 to purchase personal protective equipment
(PPE) for the Mountainair Volunteer Fire Department firefighters.
Marc LeFrancois commented that, “in
addition to providing critical firefighting equipment and
safety gear to the local community, this program has served
to improve communications and strengthen the ties between
the park and the local community. This program is an excellent
example of how the park and its partners can work together
to meet common objectives."
Adding to the importance of the ties
between the park and the local community, MacIntosh Fire Department
Chief Randal Arnold added, “The town appreciates the
help that Salinas provided our Volunteer Fire Department.
The firefighters do a lot and their work is strictly volunteer.
The help Salinas provided benefits us both. We are proud to
work closely with Monument and very much appreciate all the
help." |
