Vale, Oregon - The Bureau of Land Management Vale district will be transferring a wildland fire engine to Nyssa Rural Fire Department to enhance their wildland firefighting capabilities on Feb. 14, 2019. The engine will be transferred under BLM’s new Rural Fire Readiness (RFR) program, which is designed to provide equipment to local wildland firefighting partners at no cost.
“The BLM works closely with the Nyssa Department to suppress wildland fires that threaten communities, property and, in some cases, natural resources," said Bob Narus, Vale District Fire Management Officer. “This engine will augment Nyssa’s wildland fire response capabilities, allowing us to further enhance our effective wildland firefighting partnership."
Cooperative partnerships between the BLM and local and rural fire departments, including Rangeland Fire Protection Associations, are crucial to remote wildfire response on private, state and federal lands affecting grazing, recreational, wildlife and other values important to local economies.
The BLM accepts applications from local fire departments and Rangeland Fire Protection Associations for available vehicles, equipment and supplies. The BLM will transfer excess items to local fire departments and Rangeland Fire Protection Associations during the fall and winter months, prior to the next fire season.
To receive wildland firefighting vehicles, equipment and supplies through the RFR program, local fire departments and Rangeland Fire Protection Associations must meet a number of requirements including:
* Have an existing cooperative fire response agreement with the BLM
* Serve a rural community or area
* Have wildland fire protection responsibilities
* Be in close proximity to BLM-administered lands and respond to wildland fires in support of BLM when available and as needed
Information on the BLM fire program can be found on the Wildfire in the Pacific NW page. For information on the RFR program, please contact Brent Meisinger 541-219-6031 or bmeising@blm.gov, or Jessica Gardetto at 208-387-5458 or jdgardetto@blm.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
