"Volunteer and rural fire departments have long served an important role in the national fire prevention and suppression infrastructure.  These departments are, in many areas, the only organization able to act effectively during a fire or other emergency.  There are hundreds of volunteer fire departments in our district, and they have a lot of people to take care of.  However, many of these departments do not have the funds to purchase equipment, and are often unable to obtain sufficient resources to do their jobs.

"To alleviate this problem, many rural and volunteer departments turn to the Federal Excess Personal Property Program (FEPP).  Through this program, The USDA Forest Service loans excess federal equipment from other agencies to these fire departments.  The type of equipment most often needed is excess property from the Department of Defense, but volunteer and rural fire departments are given low priority for the allocation of this type of equipment.  This week, I introduced a bill to change that, the Rural Fire Department Equipment Priority Act.

"I grew up in a small town, and I live in a small town.  I have seen rural volunteer firefighters in action and I value their service, but I know they will be able to be more effective if they have the opportunity to obtain the equipment they so desperately need.  My bill will give rural and volunteer fire departments high priority when excess property from the Department of Defense is available.  This property could be anything from nuts and bolts to trucks – equipment our rural firefighters need to do their jobs.  It costs our government nothing, and it will protect what we value most; our lives and the lives of those we love."

“Our rural volunteer firefighters perform a vital service to residents throughout Arkansas,” Ross said.  “These grants will help these nine departments provide training, personal protective equipment, and firefighting equipment for the volunteers so that they can continue to help keep our communities safe and come to the aid of neighbors and residents in times of disaster.” 

Under the grant, FEMA has agreed to pay 90 percent of the total project costs submitted by each department in the grant application.  The latest grants announced in the 4th District are as follows:

· Corley Mountain Rural Fire Department, Paris:  $22,284
· Potter Rural Volunteer Fire Department, Hatfield:  $30,098
· Caddo Valley Fire Department, Arkadelphia:  $38,790
· Buena Vista Volunteer Fire Department, Stephens:  $43,767
· Saratoga Volunteer Fire Department, Saratoga:  $15,266
· West Crossett Volunteer Fire Department, Crossett:  $24,210
· Bonnerdale Volunteer Fire Department, Bonnerdale:  $23,274
· Stephens Volunteer Fire Department, Stephens: $41,895
· Lake Village Fire Department, Lake Village:  $32,530

Earlier this year a panel of more than 300 fire service personnel evaluated approximately 19,500 applications from across the United States. FEMA will distribute $360 million through approximately 5,500 grants before the end of 2002.  Grant recipients are being announced in batches, and future grant recipients will be posted as awards are made.