HILES VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES $1,000 PLUM CREEK FOUNDATION GRANT FOR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

TOMAHAWK, Wis.--November 11, 2009--The Plum Creek Foundation recently awarded $1,000 to the Hiles Volunteer Fire Department to help fund the purchase of protective clothing for wildland firefighting.

According the Hiles firefighter Ryan Wilson, 82 percent of the town of Hiles is located in the Nicolet-Chequamegon National Forest, where costs for fire protection are especially high.  The Plum Creek donation will be used to purchase wildland gear, including helmets, goggles, coveralls, gloves and boots.  This gear will bring the fire department up to date, according to fire department occupational safety and health standards.

“The new protective clothing will significantly improve and enhance our ability provide fire protection and suppression, and will provide additional safety for our firefighters,” said Wilson.  “We are grateful to the Plum Creek Foundation for supporting our fire department and providing the community with a well-prepared first response team.”

The Hiles Volunteer Fire Department’s mission is to provide the Hiles-area community with the best protection possible, as well as to prevent and minimize injuries and property loss.

The mission of the Plum Creek Foundation is to provide philanthropic contributions to support and improve the general welfare of life in the communities that Plum Creek serves.  The Foundation board meets quarterly to review applications submitted from organizations in the company’s operating communities.  Visit the Community Involvement page on Plum Creek’s Web site at www.plumcreek.com to download an application.

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Plum Creek is the largest and most geographically diverse private landowner in the nation with approximately 7 million acres of timberlands in major timber producing regions of the United States and wood products manufacturing facilities in the Northwest.  For more information, visit www.plumcreek.com/wisconsin.