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Firefighters in northern Baxter County have a new supply of drinking water for the long days of wildfire season. The 101 Gamaliel Volunteer Fire Protection District No. 5 has received a donation of emergency drinking water from Anheuser-Busch. The gift came through a partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council.
C & C Distributors, the brewer’s local wholesaler, delivered more than 2,300 cans on July 1. The water will help keep volunteers hydrated as they respond to wildfires and other emergencies.
The donation supports firefighters from Gamaliel, Northeast Lakeside, Henderson and Hand Cove. The district covers a large rural area in northern Baxter County, including parts of the Lake Norfork region. Its all-volunteer crews answer calls for wildland fires, structure fires, medical emergencies, vehicle crashes and water rescues.
Hot, dry weather drives up wildfire activity and makes hydration a safety issue. Long responses in extreme heat place heavy physical demands on crews.
“Having access to emergency drinking water helps protect their health, maintain their endurance, and keep them mission-ready,” said Fire Chief Bob Rodgers. He thanked Anheuser-Busch and the National Volunteer Fire Council for supporting firefighter safety.
Anheuser-Busch has provided disaster relief since 1906. Its breweries in Cartersville, Georgia, and Fort Collins, Colorado, pause beer production at times to can drinking water for emergencies. The company says it has donated more than 100 million cans since 1988.
The brewer partnered with the National Volunteer Fire Council in 2019. Since then, it and its wholesalers have delivered nearly 12 million cans to volunteer fire departments across almost all 50 states.
More information about the Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters program is available at nvfc.org/water.
