Anheuser-Busch and the NVFC Mark Another Year of Donating Emergency Drinking Water to Wildland Firefighters
February 21, 2023
Proper hydration is critical to help firefighters perform at their best and avoid health consequences that the combination of intense heat, physical exertion, and loss of fluids can cause. However, with so many demands on budget and resources, many volunteer fire departments struggle to obtain the water they need to keep their firefighters hydrated during long incidents or disasters such as wildfires. To help departments meet this need, Anheuser-Busch partnered with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) in 2019 to create the Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters program.
In 2022, 1.5 million cans of emergency drinking water were delivered to 450 volunteer fire departments across 46 states to help them prepare for wildfire response. Departments were selected through an application process and had to meet certain requirements, including being at least 50 percent volunteer and serving a population of 25,000 or less. While most water was allocated through the general application period in March, departments actively fighting wildfires throughout the year could utilize the rapid response request to receive an emergency donation. All recipients of this year’s and previous years’ water donations can be viewed here.
The Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters program is an expansion of Anheuser-Busch’s longtime commitment to providing clean, safe drinking water to communities impacted by natural disasters. Since the program began, 6.5 million cans of water have been distributed to more than 1,400 volunteer fire departments across nearly all 50 states.
“We are proud to partner with Anheuser-Busch to make sure our wildland firefighters have the water they need to stay hydrated and functioning at their best,” said NVFC chair Steve Hirsch. “Hydration is critical to the health and safety of firefighters, and we thank Anheuser-Busch for recognizing and addressing this critical need for our nation’s volunteer responders.”
The general application period for the 2023 Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters program will be open March 15-31. Find more information at www.nvfc.org/water and stay tuned to the NVFC web site, Dispatch newsletter, and Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram pages for updates on the 2023 program.
About Anheuser-Busch
At Anheuser-Busch, our purpose is to create a future with more cheers. We are always looking to serve up new ways to meet life’s moments, dream big to move our industry forward, and make a meaningful impact in the world. We hope to build a future that everyone can celebrate, and everyone can share. For more than 160 years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate more than 120 facilities, including breweries, wholesaler distribution centers, agricultural facilities, and packaging plants, and have more than 19,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America’s most loved beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA, and Stella Artois, as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home. For more information, visit http://www.anheuser-busch.com/or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About the NVFC
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides critical resources, programs, education, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.
