“The events of September 11, 2001 showed us how vital our firefighters are in responding to any emergency,” Ross said.  “Yet there are countless rural and volunteer fire departments across our country that lack proper equipment to respond to the best of their abilities to even the smallest of emergencies.  There are hundreds of volunteer fire departments in our district, and they have a lot of people to take care of.  I want to make sure they have the resources they need to fight fires, save lives, and save property.”

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.  However, many do not have the funds to purchase equipment, and are often unable to obtain sufficient resources to do their jobs.  

Ross explained that this problem becomes critical during the fire season, when dry conditions increase the risk of wildfires.  “Most of these fires start in rural areas, and if rural fire departments can act quickly with the proper equipment, they can stop those fires from spreading and can prevent disastrous wildfires like our country saw last summer.”

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.

“I grew up in a small town, and I still live in a small town,” Ross said.  “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.”

The Rural Fire Department Equipment Priority Act has the support of the National Association of State Foresters and the National Volunteer Fire Council.