Pine Mountain Fire & Rescue Purchases Equipment with South Shore Foundation Grant
April 2000

FLIPPIN, Ark. - Pine Mountain Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department has purchased new communications and medical equipment using a $6,000 grant from the South Shore Foundation. With the funds, the department will provide a new radio for an emergency medical technician, a new automatic external defibrillator, and first responder rescue supplies such as blood pressure cuffs and oxygen regulators. This addition of equipment will help the department maintain its certification with the Arkansas Department of Health.

Pine Mountain Fire and Rescue serves a remote area known as Old Midway five miles in radius in northern Marion County including the Welcome Ridge and Yocham Bend areas of Bull Shoals Lake. The department's goal is to provide the best possible medical assistance until an ambulance or rescue helicopter arrives. The community has a concrete, lighted helicopter pad, approved by the Federal Aviation Administration and built completely with volunteer labor, plus six remote land sites on private property.

Working with Dr. Robert Ahrens as medical director, Pine Mountain Fire and Rescue Department consists of first responders, licensed emergency medical technicians and volunteer nurses. The department has the only enhanced basic life support vehicle in Marion County, according to Rita Kawula, R.N., MSN, a fire fighter and first responder.

The community established the volunteer fire department in 1987 and then added the emergency medical services. An active fire department auxiliary has assisted in numerous fund raising projects in the communities served by the Pine Mountain Fire and Rescue Department.

South Shore Foundation is the charitable foundation of Northern Arkansas Telephone Company of Flippin, which awards grants to nonprofit agencies and communities to further the goals of educational advancement, environmental preservation, community betterment and economic development. NATCO President Steven G. Sanders also chairs the board of trustees of the foundation. For more information or to receive a grant application, call 870-453-3333.