BLM’s
Rural Fire Readiness Program helps local firefighters across eastern Idaho
The Bureau of Land Management Idaho Falls District has
transferred surplus wildland fire engines and equipment to 34 fire programs—
including two Rangeland Fire Protection Associations (RFPAs)—across eastern
Idaho. The transfers are part of BLM’s effort to respond to rural wildland
fires by giving excess equipment and supplies to local fire departments and RFPAs.
Under BLM’s new Rural Fire Readiness (RFR) program,
local fire programs that meet certain requirements may receive at no cost
wildland fire engines, pumps, hose, chainsaws, hand tools and other items the
BLM no longer needs.
“We appreciate the assistance of our local fire
departments and Rangeland Fire Protection Associations in wildland firefighting
in eastern Idaho,” said Joel Gosswiller, BLM Fire Management Officer at Idaho
Falls District. “The Rural Fire Readiness program allows us the opportunity to
augment their response to wildland fires safely and effectively.”
Thirty-one of the 50 cooperators that Idaho Falls
District works with have applied to the RFR program so far, receiving four
engines, a hundred Nomex pants, 80 brush coats, three Port-a-Tanks, a half-dozen
pumps, 150 tools, 29,000 feet of hose and some additional miscellaneous items.
“A lot of departments are surviving on ingenuity to
keep their people equipped,” said Kevin Conran, BLM Fire Mitigation and
Education Specialist for Idaho Falls District. “They really appreciate the BLM
surplus equipment and give it a second life.”
BLM surplus engines have been transferred to Clark
County Fire Department, Hamer Fire Department, Central Fire District and Downey
Fire Department. The Inkom Fire Department will receive an engine later this
year. All of these departments rely on volunteers, responding to multiple
structure fires, EMS and wildland fire calls.
“The Rural Fire Readiness program helps both the BLM
and Hamer respond to local wildfires,” said Scott Jacobs, Hamer Fire Chief.
“This engine upgrades the Hamer Fire Department’s program and we will put it to
good use.”
The departments participating in the RFR program have
assisted the BLM on several wildland fires over the years, most notably the
Grassy Ridge Fire, eastern Idaho’s largest fire in 2018. Hamer and Central used
the engines they received to assist in fighting the 122,106 acre Sheep Fire, Idaho National
Laboratory’s largest fire in history, this July.
“We appreciate
the Rural Fire Readiness program and how it helps both BLM and Central Fire
respond to wildfires,” said Carl Anderson, Central Fire District Chief. “It
will also enable us to help our adjacent county fire districts. We will be able
to send more trucks to assist our neighbors and local associations that we
support.”
So far this year, Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire
resources have responded to 48 fires that have burned 122,789 acres. The BLM
works closely with other federal and state agencies, local fire departments and
RFPAs to respond to wildland fires.
Photo Captions:
Central FD Sheep Fire: Central Fire District uses the BLM surplus engine they received on the 112,106 acre Sheep Fire, the largest in INL history.
Central Fire District Engine Transfer: Left to right: Brian Owens (Central Fire and Idaho State Fire Marshal Office), Jeremy Casterson (BLM Upper Snake Field Manager), Tyler Thompson (Central Fire), Nick White (Central Fire Assistant Fire Chief), Jared Giannini (Central Fire Training and Logistics), Mike Miller (Central Fire Commissioner), Kevin Conran (BLM Fire Mitigation/Education), Carl Anderson (Central Fire Chief), Joel Gosswiller (BLM Idaho Falls District Fire Management Officer).
Clark County Engine Transfer: Left to right: Mary
D'Aversa (BLM Idaho Falls District Manager), Troy Stone (Clark County Fire
Chief), Greg Shenton (Clark County Commissioner), Macoy Ward (Clark County
Commissioner), Jill Egan (Clark County Emergency Management Director), Annette
Eddins (Dubois Mayor), Kevin Conran (BLM Idaho Falls District Fire Mitigation
& Education Specialist), Joel Gosswiller (BLM Idaho Falls District Fire
Management Officer)
Downey Fire Department Engine Transfer: Left to right:
Joel Gosswiller (BLM Idaho Falls District Fire Management Officer).
Engine Supplies: When surplus engines are transferred
the national standard of equipment or normal unit stocking is kept on the
engine.
Hamer Fire Department Engine Transfer: Left to right:
Scott Jacobs (Hamer Fire Chief), Joel Gosswiller (BLM Idaho Falls District Fire
Management Officer), Joe Slagowski (Hamer Fire Department), Mary D'Aversa (BLM
Idaho Falls District Manager), Slagowski brothers (future firefighters) up
front
Hose: Some of the 29,000 hose transferred to fire
departments across eastern Idaho.
Downey Fire Department Engine Transfer: Left to right:
Wyatt Sorensen (future Downey firefighter), Chuck Sorensen (Chairman of
the Downey Fire District Board), Chris Sorensen (Downey Fire District Chief), Kevin
Conran (BLM Idaho Falls District Fire Mitigation & Education
Specialist), Joel Gosswiller (BLM Idaho Falls District Fire Management
Officer).