10/31/2007

By John Weiss
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

LA CRESCENT, Minn. -- The deluge of volunteers following the Aug. 18-19 floods in Fillmore, Winona and Houston counties was one of the things that went right.

Not having enough safety equipment for them was something that went wrong.
Fourteen city and county officials from flooded areas spoke Tuesday at a meeting of the Southeast Minnesota League of Municipalities in La Crescent, Minn., to let others know what to expect and what to do to improve their preparedness for such an emergency.

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APRIL Combats and Reduces Haze Through Active Fire Prevention and Response

With the haze back in Indonesia, APRIL (Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited), one of the world's leading producers of fiber, pulp and paper, has taken the lead among companies in combating fires by adding air-born firefighting capability to its existing ground and water-based competence.

A McDonnell-Douglas 500Er helicopter with a 476-liter water bucket have been contracted by APRIL to enable the company to respond rapidly to fires. APRIL also has an airboat which significantly improves movement in the lowlands and is effective in the rapid response to fires. This is in addition to the traditional fire truck and ground fire fighting teams.

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