Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Idaho has announced a significant contribution to wildfire protection efforts in Idaho, committing up to $40,000 in donations to nine Rangeland Fire Protection Agencies (RFPAs) across the state. This substantial financial support underscores the company’s dedication to safeguarding Idaho’s rural and agricultural lands from the devastating impacts of wildfires.
David Rafferty, Chairman of the Henry’s Creek RFPA (left) accepts a $4,500 donation from Dana May, Director of Customer Experience and Marketing at Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Idaho.
The initiative kicked off on May 18, with a $4,500 donation presented to the Henry’s Creek RFPA in Iona, Idaho. Dana May, Director of Customer Experience and Marketing at Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Idaho, spoke at the event, emphasizing the shared mission between the company and the state’s RFPAs. “At Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Idaho, we share a common goal with our state’s RFPAs – to protect what matters most in the Gem State. Our donation underscores the vital, tireless efforts of Idaho’s volunteer RFPAs, and our joint commitment to safeguard Idaho’s rural and agricultural lands and livelihoods.”
David Rafferty, Chairman of the Henry’s Creek RFPA, expressed his gratitude and highlighted the community-oriented nature of their mission. “The Henry’s Creek RFPA exemplifies the motto embedded on the statewide RFPA logo, ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors.’ We believe in building our community and doing what we can to keep it safe. This generous donation will be crucial in helping us suppress fires in our community right here in the heart of Idaho.”
Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Idaho’s donation will be distributed to nine different RFPAs, each receiving up to $4,500. The check presentations will be made at various locations across the state throughout the summer of 2024. The nine RFPAs receiving donations include:
- Henry’s Creek RFPA
- Three Creek RFPA
- Saylor Creek RFPA
- Black Canyon RFPA
- Weiser River RFPA
- Owyhee RFPA
- Notch Butte RFPA
- Camas Creek RFPA
- Shoshone Basin RFPA
Members of the Henry’s Creek RFPA at training exercises on May 18 in Iona.
ABOUT IDAHO’S RFPAs
Rangeland Fire Protection Agencies (RFPAs) are nonprofit fire departments composed of volunteers, typically farmers and ranchers, who are trained and authorized to respond to fires in remote private and public lands. Idaho’s 10 RFPAs include over 300 volunteers who respond to over 330 fires each year. They play a crucial role in mitigating and managing wildfires across nine million acres of Idaho rangeland by implementing wildfire protection measures, conducting controlled burns, coordinating firefighting efforts with federal, state, and local agencies, providing training for new volunteers, and raising awareness of fire hazards.
The U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service have recognized the value, commitment, and importance of Idaho’s RFPAs. RFPA volunteer firefighters, who are not compensated for their efforts, are often the first on the scene, providing critical early intervention that can be pivotal in controlling wildfires.
