Alpha One Fire & Rescue
Wildland & Structural Fire Protection
for all citizens in the community of Wounded Knee and surrounding areas
About Alpha One
The Road to Alpha One
In 2019, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians donated $1M to the Oglala Lakota Structural Fire Department to create the first Structural Fire Department. This organization was also awarded a Bush Foundation Grant for $321,063 in 2022. Despite all their success with funding and grants, the fire department was never built due to mismanagement and malfeasance. Soon after, the IRS revoked the Oglala Lakota Structural Fire Department's non-profit status for failure to file their taxes since 2019. This led to the creation of Alpha One, a 100% volunteer fire department.
Plume Inc. establishes a Volunteer Fire Department in Northern Wounded Knee District.
In 2022, Plume Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and parent, created Alpha One Fire & Rescue. The purpose was to alleviate the high cost of homeowners' insurance for many in central Oglala Lakota County. Homeownership is difficult due to not having a capable fire department to handle structure fires.
Oglala Lakota County
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is in the expansive Oglala Lakota County, rich in culture and history. By state law, the elected commissioners of Oglala Lakota County are obligated to allocate financial resources to eligible fire departments operating within their jurisdiction. However, there has been a concerning lack of timely distribution of these funds. As the county approaches the second consecutive year without any monetary allocation, it is noteworthy that, despite this financial shortfall, Alpha One's operations remain uninterrupted and resilient.
Odds with the Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Wounded Knee District is the highest fire risk community on the Reservation. Despite Alpha One's proximity and quick deployment, the Bureau of Indian Affairs superintendent refuses to act in the best interest of the Oglala Lakota Nation and establish a fire protection agreement with Alpha One. This violates the Indian Preference policy set forth by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of the Interior. Despite this, Alpha One still dispatches its brush trucks because the Bureau of Indian Affairs Fire Agency cannot respond with lights, sirens, or go beyond the posted speed limit in response to a wildland fire.
Annual Income of Residents
Recent reports vary but many point out that the median income on the Pine Ridge Reservation is approximately $2,600 to $3,500 per year. The highest amount of $3,500 equates to $145 every 2 weeks. This creates fundraising issues that other fire departments would otherwise benefit from.
Funding Challenges
There are very few reputable organizations doing their best to assist and alleviate the conditions on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Many nonprofit organizations not based on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation continue to raise funding that does not directly help or benefit Tribal communities. While Alpha One does the best it can with funding, the failed Oglala Lakota Structure Fire Department has left an imprint.
Grant Funding Challenges
Many tribal grants for which Alpha One is eligible necessitate tribal support or a formal resolution of support. Regrettably, the Oglala Sioux Tribe requires 45% indirect costs on any successful grants if it lends its support, which must be allocated to the Tribe, thereby restricting the remaining grant funds for the awardee's use. This stipulation is not aligned with our mission or is not an allowable cost for which we applied. This requirement further complicates the funding landscape for organizations such as Alpha One.
Pine Ridge Reservation Size
The Pine Ridge Reservation encompasses an extensive area of 3,469 square miles, equivalent to 2.1 million acres, and includes three counties within its jurisdiction. This significant landmass is 11.5 times larger than New York City, making it an impressive region to explore during a leisurely drive.
Where is Alpha One located?
Alpha One Fire & Rescue is a dedicated emergency response organization in the Central Wounded Knee District of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, specifically within the Crazy Horse community. This location is right on the Badlands border, characterized by its unique geological formations and challenging terrain.
Help Our Cause, donate today!
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will fund our missions.
