Big Bend National Park provided $4,500 in rural fire assistance (RFA) funding to the Marathon Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) in 2009. The funding will help provide emergency communication equipment and software to local firefighters.
The park has provided RFA funding to local volunteer fire departments to improve their wildland firefighting capability each year since 2001. This ongoing partnership helps foster collaboration at the local level and improves firefighter safety.
“The RFA grant from the National Park Service has enabled MVFD to purchase new radios that will allow the officers to have full communication abilities with the State and Federal agencies on fires. Previously the radios the officers used had limited ability, utilizing only local channels and three mutual aid channels. The department will now have all fire tactical frequencies that are required. The additional radios will allow the newer members to carry communications with them at home and in the field, greatly decreasing response times and increasing firefighter safety” stated Chief Daniel Eaton, Marathon VFD.
Contact: Tim Beck, Acting Fire Management Officer
Phone: (432) 477-2554
*This story supports the National Fire Plan |
