Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Thursday, September 5, 2002

REPUBLIC, MO - Senator Kit Bond and Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt today announced that the U.S. Forest Service has approved a $415,000 grant for Missouri firefighters combating forest fires and wildfires.

“These funds are critical for rural Missouri,” said Bond. “By providing additional water resources and training, these dollars will help our firefighters better protect Missouri lives and property against the real danger of rural fires.”

"Forest fires and wildfires are a serious threat in Missouri, too," Blunt said. "Up to now, we've been lucky. Many parts of Southwest Missouri are tender, dry and vulnerable. Blunt added, "The lack of water resources is the greatest problem in fighting rural fires of any kind-grass, forest, and structure fires. Having the ability to quickly move water to a fire scene, especially in a rural setting, is one of the most important factors considered by the Insurance Services Office (ISO) when a fire department attempts to lower ISO ratings that drive insurance premiums." Lower ISO ratings can offer homeowners substantial savings.

On account of the unexpected costs in fighting forest and wild fires in the western United States, the Forest Service is strapped, already spending $1 billion and expecting to spend another $1.2 billion before the fire season ends. As a result, part of the grant is temporarily on hold. As of now, $10,000 of the promised funds have been received.

The grant will fund the placement of 400 dry hydrant kits, training for fire departments and individuals on how to use them, and an education-prevention program for residents in high risk urban areas about ways to mitigate wildfire hazards. The dry hydrants will be located along roadways adjacent to water impoundments and streams that provide firefighters easy access to a major water supply.

A newly-hired Fire Consultant is planning the project for the Southwest Missouri Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D;) program based in Republic. RC&D; administers the statewide grant that will locate 400 dry hydrant kits in areas with forests, old fields, and grasslands that hold the greatest potential for fires. The dry hydrant kits will be placed throughout Missouri starting in the summer of 2003 with completion set for the summer of 2005.

Twenty seminars will be given to residents in fire risk areas to educate and prepare them to deal with the risks of forest and wildfires that may threaten their property. Residents living in newly developed areas on forested terrain are targeted for wildfire prevention education.