U.S. to provide wildfire equipment

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division is accepting applications for wildland fire suppression kits through Oct. 1. Eighty-five kits will be awarded to rural volunteer fire departments, according to a news release.

The kits will provide specialized equipment including up to 10 fire-resistant coveralls, up to 10 pairs of firefighting gloves, two backpack leaf blowers, two collapsible backpack water pumps, and six leaf rakes.

The Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant program is administered by the Forestry Division’s Rural Fire Protection office and funded by the U.S. Forest Service.

Applications should be submitted to a district forester. The application is available at https://www.agriculture.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Application.pdf.

Details: Kathryn Mahan-Hooten at Kathryn.Mahan@agriculture.arkansas.gov or (501) 679-3183 or www.agriculture.arkansas.gov/forestry/rural-fire-protection-program/.