BLM Press Release: Agreement Signed With Black Firefighters

The Bureau of Land Management

NEWS

BLM and Black Firefighters Sign Agreement To Strengthen Agency's Recruitment, Retention, and Career Development of African Americans

The Bureau of Land Management today signed a partnership agreement with the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters Foundation (IABPFFF). The agreement is aimed at strengthening the BLM's recruitment, retention, and career development of African American firefighters and fire managers.

At a ceremony at the Interior Department in Washington, D.C., BLM Deputy Director Mat Millenbach signed the BLM's agreement with the IABPFFF. Lindsey L. Plummer, Chairman of the foundation, signed for the IABPFFF, which is the educational arm of the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters. The association represents more than 8,500 African American firefighters, as well as black firefighters in other countries. The association's President, Oshiyemi Adelabu, attended the signing ceremony.

As stated in the agreement, the BLM and the IABPFFF are forming their partnership "for the purpose of providing opportunities for African American firefighters to become involved in various aspects of wildland and wildland/urban firefighting and to assist in providing improved opportunities for effective recruitment, employment, and upward mobility of African Americans as firefighters with the BLM."

This agreement complements the BLM's ongoing efforts to recruit other minority firefighters, including Hispanics, Native Americans, and Alaska Natives.

"This partnership agreement is a major step forward in the BLM's efforts to improve career opportunities for African American fire professionals," said Millenbach. "We look forward to working with the IABPFFF in expanding the role of African Americans in our agency's wildland fire management program."

Millenbach added, "The BLM is committed to making sure that our workforce reflects the ethnic and racial diversity of the American people, on whose behalf we manage the nation's public lands. Diversity strengthens the effectiveness of our entire workforce, and being effective is crucial when it comes to firefighting -- especially when you consider that 1996 was the most severe fire season in recent years."

Plummer said, "Through this agreement, the BLM has shown that it is committed to hiring African American firefighters and making sure that these firefighters have opportunities to move up through the ranks of the BLM's wildland fire management program."

Adelabu said the association is fully committed to working with the foundation to see that the goals of the agreement are achieved.

Romeo O. Spaulding, Administrator of the IABPFFF, said the agreement shows the association's commitment to helping the BLM improve its wildland fire program. "The association will work with the BLM to raise awareness in the African American community about job opportunities in wildland firefighting. Through this joint effort, the BLM will be able to do a better job of recruiting African Americans as wildland firefighters and fire managers."

In addition, the BLM commits itself under the agreement, to the extent authorized by law, to work immediately with the IABPFFF on a plan that will provide opportunities for African American entrepreneurs to provide approved products to or carry out contracted services for the BLM.

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