The Department of the Interior (DOI) has launched a pilot program aimed at bolstering the capacity of small, remote emergency response agencies. The initiative is supported by $5 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
According to a news release issued by the DOI on February 6, local governments that apply and are approved can purchase slip-on tanker units to convert trucks and other vehicles into wildland fire engines. The grants provided will range between $10,000 and $20,000.
Secretary of the DOI, Deb Haaland, emphasized the importance of this initiative in light of increasing climate-fueled wildfires. "As climate-fueled wildfires continue to grow in intensity and frequency, President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is providing new resources to equip local governments and the firefighting workforce with the resources they need to keep our communities and landscapes safe," said Haaland. "This pilot program will help more local and state agencies quickly respond when a wildfire starts nearby, increasing their capacity to protect local communities, property, infrastructure, and precious natural and cultural resources."
The National Interagency Coordination Center's Wildland Fire report for 2023 indicates that there were 56,580 wildfires last year which consumed 2,693,910 acres across the country. This marks a decline from the previous year when 68,988 wildfires scorched 7,577,183 acres as per the National Fire Activity Synopsis. This synopsis provides detailed breakdowns including structures destroyed, significant incidents that burned more than 40,000 acres along with their causes; it also offers statistics by agency, geographic area and number of wildfires by their causes among other topics.
In total terms, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has allocated $50 million for this pilot program with $5 million being available for this round of project implementation.
The same news release dated February 6 clarifies that local governments with populations of 25,000 or less are eligible to apply for this grant funding. The deadline for applications, which must be submitted through Grants.gov, is March 21.
According to the listing on Grants.gov, the application process for these grants is divided into two stages. The first deadline, set for March 21, is for statements of interest. For applicants who are invited to proceed further, application packages are due by June 4 at 5 p.m., Eastern time.
