The National Park Service (NPS), in conjunction with Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, recently provided funding for rural fire assistance to three rural fire districts (RFD). La Junta, Rocky Ford and Las Animas districts received a total of $9,000. The National Park Service grant was through the Rural Fire Assistance Program, a part of the National Fire Plan. The program is designed to increase firefighter safety and enhance the fire protection capabilities of rural fire departments near national parks to assist them with wildland fires. At Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site assistance from adjacent volunteer fire departments is vital.
La Junta Rural Fire Protection District will use the $4,000 provided by the NPS Rural Fire Assistance Program to purchase a variety of PPE: brush coats, brush pants, fire shelters, back pack pumps, combi tools, Mcleods, and Pulaskis. In addition this money will be used to support S130/190 training for new volunteers.
Rocky Ford Rural Fire Department will use the $4,000 provided by the NPS Rural Fire Assistance Program to purchase PPE and S-130/190 training for the departments volunteer fire fighters. The PPE purchased includes brush coats, brush pants, nomex shrouds, firefighter goggles, gloves, pulaskis, shovels, and portable radios.
The Las Animas/Bent County Rural Fire Department will use the $1,000 provided by the NPS Rural Fire Assistance Program to support S130/190 training.
![Rocky Ford Rural Fire Department Fire Chief, Gary G. Cox and Matt Beaman, Engineer Fire Fighter discuss the training and PPE the department will purchase with the National Rural Fire Protection support received recently from Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090511000203im_/http://www.nps.gov/fire/images/photos/pub_fir04_beol_rfa.jpg) |