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Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet
Division of Forestry firefighters assist with Virginia fire
FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 3, 2006) - Two Kentucky Division of Forestry personnel have been dispatched to Virginia to help battle a 650-acre fire in the Jefferson National Forest.
The U.S. Forest Service requested assistance from the division on Tuesday. Dwayne Anderson, a full-time division employee, and Jerry Brown, an interim firefighter from the division’s Northeastern District, headquartered in Morehead, volunteered for service and will work as dozer bosses. They are expected to arrive today.
State employees volunteer for this opportunity to assist other states. They will be on leave from the division and paid by the U.S. Forest Service during this time. Fourteen days plus travel time is the maximum number of days the firefighters will be away from home.
"Our spring fire season officially ended April 30 and we are fortunate that current conditions in Kentucky allow us to offer assistance," said Leah MacSwords, director of the Kentucky Division of Forestry. "If we experience a severe fire season this fall we may have to ask the U.S. Forest Service to return the favor."
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