Anheuser-Busch and the NVFC Donated 2.5 Million Cans of Water to Wildland Firefighters in 2023
March 12, 2024
For volunteer fire departments lacking the budget and resources to provide adequate drinking water for their wildland firefighters, Anheuser-Busch’s Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters program, a partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), has been a lifeline. Since 2019, the program has annually awarded canned drinking water to departments in need.
Dehydration is a very serious health and safety concern for wildland firefighters, who spend hours battling fires while enduring conditions including excessive heat and rough terrain. Dehydration can cause decreased awareness and efficiency, putting firefighters at risk. It also increases the chances of heat-related conditions or illnesses, which could be potentially life-threatening. Yet many departments are stretched thin on resources and budget, leaving them struggling to provide enough water for their firefighters. The Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters program eliminates this need for volunteer fire departments by ensuring they have enough water to keep their firefighters hydrated and at their best.
A record number of water was awarded through the program in 2023 during two application periods. The expanded partnership allowed for 2.5 million cans of water to be donated to 1,061 departments across 47 states. To make sure the water went to departments most in need, applicants had to meet certain criteria, including being over 50 percent volunteer and serving a population of 25,000 or less.
Helping those in need is not unfamiliar to Anheuser-Busch; each year, they periodically pause beer production to can emergency drinking water for those impacted by natural disasters and other crises. Since partnering with the NVFC and adding wildland firefighters to their list of recipients, over 8.9 million cans of water have been distributed to nearly 2,500 volunteer fire departments across almost all 50 states.
“Drinking water is a necessity that not every fire department can access or afford,” said NVFC chair Steve Hirsch. “We thank Anheuser-Busch for equipping wildland firefighters with the fuel they need to protect themselves and their communities.”
The general application period for the 2024 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, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram pages for updates on the 2024 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, X, 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.
