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VFD receives equipment donation |
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Saturday, 13 September 2008 |
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By Tammy Langley
Daily Times Leader
The South East Unit 700 Volunteer Fire Department received safety equipment Friday morning from the Mississippi Forestry Commission as part of a National Fire Plan Program grant through the USDA Forest Service.
“This equipment will improve the capability and effectiveness of the local volunteer fire departments in northeast Mississippi to safely protect lives and rural properties,” said Stacy Lewis, Assistant District Forester, Northeast District, which is located in Tupelo.
This special Fire Plan program grant of $475,958 for the past years was distributed to 78 volunteer fire departments statewide. The grant provides wildland firefighting personal protective equipment to help local volunteer fire department personnel to extinguish grass and brush fires and assist MFC on wildfires. Each approved fire department received 10 sets of “Ready Kits” that consist of the following items: Nomex yellow coverall suit, wildland Bullard helmet, Nomex neck shroud, headlamp, gloves, safety glasses, and a yellow storage bag. Nomex is a flame-resistant material.
“When volunteer fire department personnel respond to a wildland fire or grass fire they normally wear their firefighting clothing, which is very heavy and hot. The structural firefighting clothing is not designed for the extreme wildland firefighting activities,” said Lewis.
“There are plans in the future for local volunteer fire department personnel to receive some specialized wildland firefighting training through a new distance learning program called Fire in the Field,” said Lewis.
The National Fire Plan Program does not cover the cost of the wildfire training.
Many towns and communities in the Northeast District are high risks for wildfires. It is important that the volunteer fire department personnel have this safety equipment to protect them on these dangerous and often unpredictable wildfires. Most fire chiefs will tell you that fighting a wildfire is different from extinguishing a structural fire. The local volunteer fire departments rely on grants from the USDA Forest Service and the Mississippi Forestry Commission for this special gear. For more information about MFC firefighting grants go to the MFC web site; www.mfc.state.ms.us.
Bill Blankenship, Clay County fire coordinator, said the MFC has worked with the volunteers over the years.
“One of the departments receive this gift. We really appreciate all they do,” said Blankenship.
Phillip Collins, Unit 700 chief, said his department will take “very good care” of the equipment. Collins added, they will put it to “good use.” Collins acknowledged his appreciation for everything the MFC does , as well as what Blankenship does for the volunteer fire department.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 16 September 2008 )
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