High Plains District Office
| Contacts: | Lesley A. Collins | |||
| 307/261-7603 |
BLM and Wyoming State Forestry Division
Work Together on Refurbished Wildand Fire Engine
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) High Plains District and Wyoming State Forestry Division (WSFD) worked together on a project to refurbish a 1966 BLM 5-ton wildland fire engine. The WSFD delivered the fire engine to BLM in June of 2011, just in time for the busy fire season.
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BLM was able to get the truck refurbished through a WSFD program that provides field service, training, and parts to Wyoming counties to maintain their fleet of fire suppression equipment. Using the Federal Excess Personal Property Program (FEPP) equipment and parts, Wyoming State Forestry Division remanufactures and paints ex-military trucks, and builds fire packages for the vehicles.
“The best part is that the truck will go to one of our cooperating county fire departments when we surplus it,” says Fransted. “So the work WSFD has done will eventually come back into their program and benefit volunteer firefighters.”
In exchange for the refurbishment, the BLM provided a crewmember for the WSFD helitack program for the 2011 fire season. Wyoming state helitack has been involved in emergency services since 2004. It is staffed as an initial attack, exclusive use helicopter for fire suppression and all risk emergencies throughout Wyoming. Although their mission is primarily to protect state and private land, they also respond to fire on or threatening BLM land.
“We’ve always worked with and supported the WSFD helitack program but wanted to get more involved,” says Jay Esperance, Fire Management Officer for the BLM High Plains District. “This was a great example of how we can work together to reduce costs and improve each other’s’ programs. Although the truck is done, we plan to permanently provide a crew member for the helitack program.”
Ron Graham, WSFD Fire Management Officer, agrees. “To be able to partner with the BLM not only stretches limited funds, but allows each agency to better serve the residents of Wyoming. For a program to succeed, it is important to work with other entities and use staff and equipment.”
For more information, go to Wyoming State Forestry Division website at http://lands.state.wy.us/forestry or call 307-777-7586.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2012, activities on public lands generated $4.6 billion in revenue, much of which was shared with the States where the activities occurred. In addition, public lands contributed more than $112 billion to the U.S. economy and helped support more than 500,000 jobs.
High Plains District Office 2987 Prospector Dr. Casper, WY 82601