From Firefighting to Flood Relief

( An Immediate Release from Dave Vickery at the National Interagency Fire Center. E-mail address is dvickery@nifc.blm.gov)

BOISE, Idaho—As flood waters rise in the Midwest, firefighting resources are sent to support relief efforts. The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) processed orders for supplies, equipment, and personnel to assist organizations charged with providing temporary care of flood victims.

"We are deeply concerned about the thousands of individuals forced from their homes and businesses, and are happy to provide whatever assistance we can," said Dave Vickery, spokesperson at NIFC. Through cooperative agreements with the states of Minnesota and North Dakota, NIFC has processed orders for:

•  
  • 208 radios
  • 140 generators
  • 100 light kits
  • 1,155 cots
  • 2,000 sleeping bags
  • 500 boxes of meals-ready-to-eat (MRE’s)
  • 280 radio batteries
  • 4 support personnel

Presidential Disaster declarations are in effect for several counties in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. Local Federal agencies have signed cooperative agreements with the states to provide assistance for natural disasters.

Addressing Grass, Brush, Forest, and Wildland Fires

As Summer quickly approaches we are planning to address several issues regarding outdoor fires. We are asking our readers to interact with us on the issues of grass, brush, forest, and wildland fires. We not only want to discuss how to attack these fires, but how to help in prevention and educating our communities against these types of fires. Please give us how you and/or your department would handle a situation, not just what the book says is the correct way to do it. Please get your responses in to us as soon as possible.

National Volunteer Fire Council

The NVFC (National Volunteer Fire Council) is a non-profit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. Organized in 1976, the NVFC serves as the information source for the emergency services.

The NVFC is the volunteer fire service’s representative, not only in the national policy arena, but also on numerous national and international committees and organizations. For more information please call 1-888-ASK-NVFC or e-mail them at: nvfcoffice@nvfc.org

Page 2