Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet
Kentucky firefighters assist with Texas wildfires

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jun. 23, 2006) - Four firefighters and two pumper trucks from the Kentucky Division of Forestry (KDF) are heading to Texas to help battle wildfires.

The Kentuckians are assigned to the Midland Incident Command Post in west Texas and are expected to be on duty 14 days, plus travel time. The two crews are scheduled to get under way Saturday, June 24, from their respective home districts - Kentucky River (Hazard), Green River (Madisonville), and Western (Mayfield).

Kentucky is part of the Southeastern Interstate Forest Fire Compact, which gives states a means of sharing wildland firefighters and equipment. Member states agree to help each other, to maintain a dialogue about wildfire threats and to make equipment and personnel available on short notice. Texas will reimburse Kentucky for the KDF firefighters’ time and expenses.

The KDF vehicles are known as Type 6 engines - pickup trucks equipped with pumps, hoses, chainsaws and other fire suppression tools.

If weather conditions in west Texas don’t improve, it is expected that more fire suppression assistance would be requested.