BENTON COUNTY — Volunteer firefighters are partnering with the Arkansas Forestry Commission to reduce fire hazards associated with the 2009 ice storm.

Northeast Benton County Volunteer Fire Department, Little Flock Fire Department and Avoca Fire and Rescue were among 15 departments in Benton County to receive wildland firefighting equipment kits from the Arkansas Forestry Commission. The value of each kit is estimated at $3,000.

Each fire department received two backpack water pumps, two backpack leaf blowers, two chain saws with chaps and helmets, five council rakes and five leaf broom rakes. The kits were purchased with grant funding through the U.S. Forest Service for wildfire hazard reduction on Arkansas property impacted by the ice storm of January 2009.

News, Pages 12 on 06/16/2010