Albert Volunteer Fire Department has received a donation of emergency drinking water from Anheuser-Busch to help keep its firefighters hydrated during wildfire response efforts this season. The donation, made in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), will provide hydration to first responders working long hours in extreme conditions.
On June 12, 2,352 cans of water were delivered by Will Fischer Distributing, Hays, Anheuser-Busch’s local wholesaler partner. The donation will help ensure firefighters have access to clean drinking water while responding to wildfires and other emergencies where proper hydration is essential for safety and performance.
Albert Volunteer Fire Department, located in western Barton County, has 21 volunteer firefighters on its roster and services over 200 square miles of agricultural and community property. The fire department also partners with adjacent departments to provide mutual aid outside of its service territory and surrounding counties.
“Responding to emergencies can take a serious toll on firefighters, especially during long or high-intensity incidents like wildfires. Staying hydrated is essential to our crew’s health, safety, and performance,” said Captain Michael Bahr. “This donation of emergency drinking water from Anheuser-Busch and the National Volunteer Fire Council ensures we have the supplies we need to keep our firefighters hydrated and ready to serve our community.”
Anheuser-Busch has a longstanding tradition of supporting communities during times of disaster by pausing beer production each year to produce emergency drinking water. In 2025, the company surpassed 100 million cans produced for disaster relief efforts since the program began in 1988. In 2019, Anheuser-Busch expanded this commitment through a partnership with the NVFC to support volunteer fire departments nationwide, providing over 10million cans of water to more than 3,100 departments across nearly all 50 states.
The NVFC is the leading nonprofit association representing the interests of volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services across the U.S., with a mission to support volunteer responders and the communities they serve.
To learn more about the Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters program, visit www.nvfc.org/water.