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A check for $10,000 was presented to the Eddy County Commission by National Park Service Director Fran Mainella during her visit to Carlsbad Caverns on April 20.
The check represents the Rural Fire Assistance Grant that was awarded through Carlsbad Caverns National Park to support White's City Fire Department in providing personal protective equipment and additional wildland fire suppression equipment for their two stations.
"We are pleased to again be able to support the efforts of the White's City Fire Department," stated Mary Gibson-Scott, park superintendent. "Firefighter safety is our number one priority and this funding will greatly enhance the safety of all firefighters that work in and around our park."
"I have been working hard to equip our firefighters and wildland fire engines to national standards," said Fire Chief Mark J. Maciha. "One thing that complicates assistance to federal agencies is the lack of standardization of equipment between volunteer agencies and federal firefighting forces. With this support, we will purchase the safety and suppression equipment necessary to meet Type 6 wildland engine requirements and have full compatibility with our cooperators. Having the same equipment and training as our neighbors is critical to success in wildland fire suppression in our area."
Beginning with the National Fire Plan funding in 2001, and continuing since, the National Park Service has been able to help its local cooperators through the Rural Fire Assistance program. In this fiscal year, the NPS Intermountain Region disbursed $411,000 to help neighboring fire departments.
The Rural Fire Assistance program is primarily designed to increase firefighter safety and enhance the wildland fire protection capabilities of rural fire departments. Priority is given to departments who pursue accepted standards of wildland fire qualifications, training and performance. Emphasis is placed on departments such as White's City Fire Department that play a substantial cooperative role in the protection of National Park Service lands and support interagency fire efforts.
This is the second Rural Fire Assistance Grant received by White's City Fire Department. The first was received in 2002 and was used to purchase water storage tanks for its two stations to provide rapid-refill capabilities for structural and wildland fire suppression.
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