VERNON-Vernon Fire District is happy to announce a $10,000 Rural Fire Capacity (RFC) Grant from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
The funds from this grant will allow Vernon Fire District to purchase wildland tools, personal protective equipment, as well as fire shelters. Funds originate from the USDA Forest Service and are awarded and administered as sub-grants from The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. The maximum award from this program to any single firefighting organization is $10,000 per year.
Assistant Nick Perrone explained, “We are ecstatic and appreciative of the awarding of this grant. Being able to purchase necessary equipment for wildland use such as fire shelters that are used as a last resort to protect crews if trapped by wildfires is a huge deal.”
Arizona’s Rural Fire Capacity Grant Program (RFC) formally known as the Volunteer Fire Assistance or VFA Grant Program is authorized by the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1990. It provides financial assistance to train, organize, and equip fire departments in rural areas and rural communities to prevent and suppress fires.
Vernon Fire crews have been focusing their training the past few weeks on preparing for wildland season. These trainings include practicing the deployment of fire shelters as well as completing a pack test. The pack test requires our crews to complete a 3-mile walk in 45 minutes or less while carrying a 45-pound pack.
“The required yearly training and pack test our crews do to prepare for wildland season is very arduous and qualifies our department to be able to respond to wildland incidents in our area and all over the country,” explained Asst. Chief Nick Perrone, “We are aware of the possibility of a wildfire in our area, and we are focusing our efforts in preparing for that possibility.”