BLM transfers wildland fire engine to Clark County Fire Department
The Bureau of Land Management Idaho Falls District transferred a surplus wildland fire engine to the Clark County Fire Department Wednesday.
This was part of the BLM’s effort to respond to rural wildland fires by giving 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 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.”
The Clark County Fire Department has assisted on several wildland fires over the years, most notably with the Grassy Ridge Fire and the Indian Butte Fire, eastern Idaho’s two largest fires in 2018.
Last year, eastern Idaho had 141 fires that burned 133,957 acres. The BLM works closely with other federal and state agencies, local fire departments and Rangeland Fire Protection Associations to respond to wildland fires.
