POCATELLO, Idaho— The Bureau of Land
Management Idaho Falls District transferred a surplus wildland fire
engine to the Inkom Fire Department today
as part of BLM’s effort to respond to rural wildland fires. This program allows
BLM the ability to give excess equipment and supplies to local fire departments
and Rangeland Fire Protection Associations.
Under BLM’s new Rural Fire Readiness program,
local fire departments and Rangeland Fire Protection Associations 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 BLM Fire Management Officer Joel Gosswiller.
“The Rural Fire Readiness program allows us the opportunity to augment their
response to wildland fires safely and effectively.”
The transferred engine
is BLM’s retired Engine 3482, which spent 18 years stationed in Malad. Engine Captain Wade Christophersen
picked up the engine from the factory in Indianapolis and captained it for its
entire life of service with the BLM.
“The Rural Fire Readiness program helps both
the BLM and Inkom respond to local wildfires,” said Johnny Ketner, Inkom Fire
Chief. “This engine will enhance the Inkom Fire Department’s program and
we will put it to good use.”
This year, eastern Idaho Interagency Fire
Center has responded to 80 fires that burned 138,534 acres. The BLM works
closely with other federal and state agencies, local fire departments and
Rangeland Fire Protection Associations to respond to wildland fires.
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Transferred BLM wildland fire engine to Inkom Fire Department
Left to right: Joel Gosswiller (BLM Idaho
Falls District Fire Management Officer), Dean Hazen (Inkom FD Volunteer),
Johnny Ketner (Inkom Fire Chief), Rob Armstrong (Inkom FD Volunteer), Melissa
Warren (BLM Pocatello Field Manager), Blaine Newman (BLM Pocatello Assistant
Field Manager), Mike Kuyper (BLM Pocatello Assistant Field Manager), Brian
O’Donnell (BLM Fire Operation Specialist)
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