Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet
Kentucky forestry agency receives another national award

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 11, 2005) - The Kentucky Division of Forestry has received a national award for the third time this year.

The Franklin Award, sponsored by the USDA Forest Service Cooperative Protection Program, acknowledges efforts of state forestry agencies to provide fire services to all citizens, particularly those in underserved communities.

The award recognized the division’s Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) Program, which provides equipment on loan to local fire departments for suppressing wildland fires. Equipment includes trucks, tankers, generators, tanks, fire hose and turnout gear. In return, the departments maintain and insure the equipment, respond to all calls within their coverage areas and assist the Division of Forestry when called.

"We are very excited and honored to have our FEPP program nationally recognized," said Division of Forestry Director Leah MacSwords, who was presented the award last week in Madison, Wis., at the annual meeting of the National Association of State Foresters.

"This award validates the hard work of all of the division’s 237 employees," MacSwords said. "We are pleased that we have a program that provides such a valuable service to local fire departments. Local fire departments certainly provide us an invaluable service when assisting us with wildland fires," MacSwords said.

The division also received a Franklin Award in June for outstanding wildland fire protection programs and a Bronze Smokey Bear Award for wildland fire and arson prevention efforts.