The Fire and Aviation Management Staff (F&AM) of the Washington Office, would like to extend our appreciation to Jack Horton, former employee of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Northeastern Area, who has devoted his time as a volunteer to complete this national Volunteer Fire Assistance Desk Guide. The national guide is patterned after an earlier Northeastern Area Rural Community Fire Protection Desk Guide, in which Jack also played a major role.

The Northeastern Area formed a committee of State and Federal participants to create the original Rural Community Fire Protection Desk Guide for the Northeastern Area. Notable in that effort were: Steve Creech, Indiana Division of Forestry; Tom Bourn, Rhode Island Division of Forest Environment; Bill Hale, Missouri Forestry Division; Alan Zentz, Maryland Forest Service; Amy Adams, USDA Forest Service; and Dennis Pendleton, USDA Forest Service. Bill Terry,USDA Forest Service, prepared material for Appendixes K and L of the guide.

The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.