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In August, the Woodstock Fire Department and Marsh-
Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park announced
the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) for
wildland firefighters in the department. Firefighters will
use the equipment when responding to wildland fires in
Woodstock, the park and adjacent towns. The purchase
was possible through U.S. Department of the Interior
Rural Fire Assistance (RFA) funding. In prior years the
Woodstock Fire Department received equipment worth
$24,753 through RFA. This included a slip-on pump for
the wildland firefighting truck, an off-road utility vehicle
for carrying personnel to remote fires, portable pumps
and hoses, hand tools and fire resistant clothing.
The primary purpose of RFA is to increase wildland
firefighter safety and wildland fire protection capabilities
of rural fire departments. These departments protect
communities of less than 10,000 people and play a
cooperative role in protecting federal lands, such as
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park.
In 2005, the Woodstock Fire Department responded to
two wildland fires. To date in 2006, the Department
responded to four wildland fires, including one that crossed over into the 555-acre national
historical park.
Through an agreement between the National Park Service and the town, the Woodstock Fire
Department provides fire protection services to the national park, which interprets the history and
evolution of conservation stewardship in America. Park Superintendent Rolf Diamant
commented, "Butch Sutherland and the Woodstock Fire Department are great people to work
with and we are pleased we can help the Department and the community with this acquisition."
Contact: Kyle Jones, Ecologist, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP
Phone: 802-457-3368 |
