Area volunteer fire departments receive Wildfire Suppression Kits

The Rural Fire Protection program, managed by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division, received $279,562.45 as part of the 2021 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant from the United States Forest Service to purchase and distribute 87 Wildfire Suppression Kits to rural volunteer fire departments. The kits include equipment and gear necessary for the safe suppression of wildfires.  In southwest Arkansas, fire departments who received the kits include Kirby, Washington,  De Queen, Arden, and Winthrop.

Kits distributed this year included lightweight wildfire-resistant coveralls and gloves, hand rakes, back-pack water pumps, and leaf blowers.