Stronger together: DOI fire engine boosts wildfire readiness in rural Arizona

When the Department of the Interior (DOI) transferred a Type-4 wildland fire engine to the Colorado City Fire Department this spring, it represented far more than an additional piece of equipment. For this remote Arizona community, Engine 1401 symbolizes expanded capability, stronger partnerships, and a renewed sense of readiness as wildfire season approaches.

The engine was provided through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)’s Rural Fire Readiness program, which equips small, rural departments with tools they might otherwise struggle to afford. For Fire Chief Jesse Barlow, the impact is immediate and unmistakable.  

“This allows us to have equipment we would not otherwise be able to obtain,” Barlow said. “It gives our volunteers a more robust initial attack response across our 1,200-square-mile first-due area.” 

Until now, Colorado City firefighters primarily relied on smaller Type-6 brush trucks carrying a fraction of the water that Engine 1401 can haul. With a 750-gallon tank and greater pump capacity, the Type-4 engine vastly improves the department’s ability to reach wildland fires in their early stages. While the department also operates Type-1 structure engines, those vehicles are not suited for the rugged, off-road terrain that defines the Arizona Strip.  

“We’re super excited about it,” Barlow said. “We don’t have a truck like this for wildland response, so this is great.” 

A critical resource for remote communities 

Colorado City sits in one of the most remote stretches of the Arizona Strip, where local fire departments often serve as the closest responders for incidents stretching as far south as Mt. Trumbull. With Engine 1401 now in service, crews can reach remote ignitions more quickly.

“With initial attack on the Arizona Strip, a lot of times we’re the first to respond because we’re so much closer,” Barlow said. “This engine helps us get where we need to be, when it matters most.”

Partnerships that protect public lands

BLM leaders say the Rural Fire Readiness program is designed with exactly these challenges in mind. Local fire departments are often the first to reach fires on nearby public lands, making them essential partners in protecting both communities and natural resources. 

“Local volunteer fire departments are the closest resource, so they’re often the first to respond and are dedicated to protecting their own communities and surrounding public lands,” said BLM Arizona Strip Acting District Manager April Rabuck. 

Brandon Davis, U.S. Wildland Fire Service fire management officer, noted that partnerships like this also strengthen regional response capacity. By providing equipment and training to local departments, the program expands the network of skilled firefighters ready to act when conditions change quickly. “Community fire departments and firefighters play a critical role in filling those gaps and strengthening overall response efforts,” Davis said. 

Preparing for the future 

The BLM continues to accept applications from rural departments seeking firefighting vehicles, equipment, and supplies through the Rural Fire Readiness program. Departments must meet several requirements to qualify, ensuring resources go where they are most needed. 

Get more information on the BLM’s Rural Fire Readiness Program.