Some area Volunteer Fire Departments receive help through a grant for equipment to help battling forest fires.
According to a release from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, the Rural Fire Protection program through the department's Forestry Division received just over $279,500 as part of the 2021 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program from the U.S. Forest Service for the purchase of Wildfire Suppression Kits. The kits include the tools needed for suppression of wildfires.
87 Rural Fire Departments received the kits including seven in the region including:
Capps -Batavia FD/ Boone Co.
Grassy Knob FD / Carroll Co.
Japton FD / Madison Co.
Oxley FD / Searcy Co.
Parthenon FD / Newton Co.
Rea Valley FD / Marion Co.
Welcome Home FD/ Searcy Co.
According to the release, since 2014 579 volunteer fire departments have received Wildfire Suppression Kits through the Rural Fire Protection program. Kits distributed this year include lightweight wildfire-resistant coveralls and gloves, hand rakes, back-pack water pumps, and leaf blowers.
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