BLM transfers wildland fire engines to five Rural Fire Readiness partners
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TWIN FALLS, Idaho –Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Twin Falls District Fire Management program transferred five wildland fire engines to the Bliss Rural Fire District, Notch Butte Rangeland Fire Protection Association, Raft River Rural Fire Protection District, Saylor Creek Rangeland Fire Protection Association and the Shoshone Basin Rangeland Fire Protection Association.
The transfer took place during a ceremony held at the BLM Twin Falls District Office. The engines were transferred under BLM’s Rural Fire Readiness program, which is designed to provide equipment to local wildland firefighting partners at no cost.
“We are pleased to make this engine transfer happen for so many of our rural partners on the Twin Falls District,” said BLM Idaho State Director John Ruhs. “Through this transfer, we are enhancing the ability to suppress wildland fires that threaten communities, property and natural resources in south-central Idaho.”
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.
For the past several years, these engines have served in each of the Burley, Jarbidge and Shoshone Field Offices within the BLM Twin Falls District, as well as multiple out-of-state assignments in the West.
For more information on the RFR program, please visit the BLM Rural Fire Readiness webpage at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.