The BLM continues to transfer available firefighting resources to local fire departments in Idaho through its Rural Fire Readiness program to enhance their wildland firefighting capabilities. Yesterday, the BLM's Boise District Office transferred one Type 4 wildland fire engine to each of these local fire districts: Weiser Area Rural Fire District, King Hill Rural Fire Department and the Indian Valley Rural Fire District.
Under BLM’s Rural Fire Readiness (RFR) program, local wildland firefighting cooperators that meet certain requirements may receive at no cost wildland fire engines, water tenders, radios, pumps, hose, chainsaws, hand tools, personal protective equipment, fire shelters and other items the BLM has available for transfer.
Community partnerships between the BLM And local fire departments are crucial to wildfire response on private, state and federal lands that support grazing, recreation, wildlife and other values important to local economies.
“We have both wildland and urban interface firefighting due to new housing developments in our area,” said Indian Valley Rural Fire District Chief Tim Toomey. “Receiving this engine is one of the greatest things to happen to our fire district and we’ll be excited to have it ready to go by fire season.”
