CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE TAKESSTEPS TO PROTECT LIVES
Outline Of Need:
In the past the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe has had firesin the communities and lives have been lost, homes did not have fire alarms that worked,did not have a fire alarm at all, or to say the least a fire truck to at least slow the fire toprevent the loss of life and /or property. The distance from the fire departments is anotherproblem that the tribe must deal with as well. The establishment of Community VolunteerFire Protection Programs is essential in the initial phases of the overall plan; the plan willconsist of several components with the first being having an actual fire unit locatedwithin a community to have the front line of defense in fire protection.
How Rural Development Helped:
The assistance that USDARural Development provided will allow the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe to establish itsfirst Tribally Operated Volunteer Fire Department ,this Pilot Program is long overdue afire fighting presence that is strategically located in various communities that do nothave any fire fighting equipment at all, the units will be located at certain communitiesthat have facilities that can house the units. The acquisition of one these two fire truckswill assist the Tribe having faster response in the event of a fire in the outlyingcommunities, the units will be located in the Takini on the west end of the reservationand the second unit will be located in the Swiftbird community both units will serve as afirst responder system, along with a training program for local volunteers that will betrained in various aspects of fire fighting (structural and agricultural) as well as fireprevention programs will eventually be established in each community. There is also aneed to acquire fire detection equipment, provide public outreach to residents,educational facilities, evacuation plans from public facilities, establish training programs,and distribute educational material to the public. The Targeted area will be the entireReservation beginning with the Elderly, Youth, Handicapped Individuals, Child Carefacilities and Residential Structures.
The Results
:
The establishment of the Cheyenne River Sioux Volunteer FireDepartment will provide a quicker response to fire fighting capabilities in the ruralcommunities which first and foremost will save lives and natural resources. Futurephases will include long term training, search and rescue, public education of fireprevention, fire alarms and /or smoke detectors in homes and facilities and eventuallyhaving enough community volunteers to address immediate danger of a breakout of a fireto a minimum.
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