News Releases for August 2002
August 5, 2002
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Hoeven Requests Presidential Emergency Declaration
BISMARCK, N.D. - Governor John Hoeven today asked President George W. Bush to issue a Presidential Emergency Declaration to provide funding support for a state Fire Support Task Force. The declaration would supplement the firefighting capabilities of 22 North Dakota counties, which were included in the statewide drought emergency Hoeven declared on May 30th. The Fire Support Task Force would partner with state firefighting resources and existing federal firefighting resources to assist rural fire departments.
“In light of recent wildfires, it is clear that these counties need enhanced firefighting capabilities,” Hoeven said. “They need additional resources they can call on to help respond to extended firefights, particularly in the southwest and south central parts of the state. I am asking the Administration to help us fund a North Dakota Fire Support Task Force.”
The Fire Support Task Force would supplement the efforts of local volunteer fire departments in responding to extended firefights. The task force would be made up of the following state agencies: the Governor’s Office; North Dakota Forest Service; North Dakota State Radio Communications; North Dakota National Guard; Department of Transportation; North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department; North Dakota Aeronautics Commission; State Fire Marshall’s Office; North Dakota State Game and Fish Department; and the Division of Emergency Management.
All of the agencies have committed personnel or equipment to the emergency effort to control wildland fires. The equipment includes: fixed wing aircraft; gas engines; graders; water tender and tankers; tractor-trailers; radio and cell phone communications; and helicopters, as well as task force staging capability at strategic locations within the effected area.
“We are already staging equipment and manpower at Hettinger and Bismarck in case they are needed,” said Doug Friez, North Dakota Emergency Management Director.
North Dakota is in a severe or extreme category on the National Weather Service’s fire index. Existing fuel conditions and the weather determine the fire index classification on a daily basis. The twenty-two North Dakota counties that are currently affected are: Golden Valley, Billings, Slope, Bowman, Stark, Hettinger, Adams, Oliver, Morton, Burleigh, Grant, Sioux, Emmons, Kidder, Stutsman, Logan, LaMoure, McIntosh, Dickey, Ransom, Sargent, and Richland, in addition to the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.
“State agencies have stretched their budgets as far as they can and now we need the extra support to be able to act appropriately on short notice,” said Hoeven.
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