Firefighters with the Crook County Volunteer Fire Department will have new personal protective equipment (PPE) during fires thanks to a Rural Fire Assistance Program grant of $19,216 received from Devils Tower National Monument. This program was created to enhance wildland fire protection capabilities near Department of the Interior lands.
“This grant will provide funding for PPE, weather meters, and safety glasses,” said Dan Blakeman, Fire Warden for Crook County Volunteer Fire Department. This is a great example of the partnerships needed between local and federal agencies to fight fires in areas where few boundaries exist between forests and towns. This was a 90/10 cost share grant. The National Park Service provided 90% of the funding and the fire department matched it with a 10% in-kind donation.
“This volunteer department has a long history of working with the park on mutual operations,” said park superintendent Dorothy FireCloud. “With many park employees living in and around Crook County, we are pleased to provide funding assistance to support the department’s efforts in responding to fires throughout the county and Devils Tower National Monument.”
This program was created to increase firefighter safety and enhance the wildland fire protection capabilities of rural fire departments. This is achieved by assisting those departments in meeting or exceeding accepted standards of wildland fire qualifications, training, and performance. Emphasis is placed on departments that protect rural communities and play a substantial cooperative role in the protection of Federal lands such as Devils Tower National Monument.
Contact: Jason Devcich, Engine Module Supervisor
Phone: (605) 745-1166
*This story supports the National Fire Plan |
