Big Bend National Park (BBNP) provided $11,500 in rural fire assistance (RFA) funding to the Terlingua Fire and EMS (TFEMS) in 2009. The funding will help provide wildland fire equipment and personal protective gear to local firefighters including Nomex clothing, fire shelters, a 1500-gallon portable water tank, and emergency communication equipment.
The park has provided RFA funding to local volunteer fire departments to improve their wildland firefighting capability each year since 2001. Several park employees volunteer with TFEMS and medics from both the park and TFEMS participate in bi-annual EMT refreshers. This ongoing partnership helps foster collaboration at the local level and improves firefighter safety.
“The Rural Fire Assistance funding provides valuable and much needed equipment to our department. The RFA also strengthens our relationship with the staff at BBNP increasing our ability to serve the needs of both of our communities.” stated Chief Greg Hennington, Terlingua Fire and EMS.
Contact: Tim Beck, Acting Fire Management Officer
Phone: (432) 477-2554
*This story supports the National Fire Plan |
