Ely, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Administration (BLM) Ely District on January 11 handed off the keys for a hearth engine to the Pahranagat Valley Volunteer Fireplace District. The switch was made potential by the BLM’s Rural Fireplace Readiness (RFR) program, which was developed to supply native cooperators with firefighting gear to extend their wildland fireplace response capabilities.
“We function first responders to wildfires on public lands inside our district by means of an settlement with the BLM. This engine permits us to raised accomplish what the BLM wants us to,” mentioned Steve Meldrum, Pahranagat Valley Volunteer Fireplace District Chief.
“We thank the Pahranagat Valley Volunteer Fireplace District for its long-term contribution to wildland firefighting and robust partnership with the BLM. It’s important partnerships equivalent to this that assist to supply for a secure, environment friendly and efficient wildfire response in jap Nevada,” mentioned Leevi Ahlvers, BLM Ely District mitigation specialist.
The RFR program offers gear now not wanted by the BLM to wildland fireplace companions that meet eligibility necessities. These necessities embrace serving a rural neighborhood or space and having wildland fireplace safety tasks, collaborating in a cooperative fireplace safety settlement with the BLM, and being close to BLM-administered lands and responding in assist of the company when obtainable and wanted. Meldrum credited Ahlvers and the volunteer fireplace district’s Emergency Administration Coordinator Derek Bowman and Firefighter Kenyon Walch for making the switch potential. “They put within the labor that introduced this about,” he mentioned.
The BLM accepts RFR purposes from native and tribal fireplace departments for obtainable autos, gear, and provides, and transfers extra gadgets within the months prior to fireplace season. For extra data on the RFR program, go to the BLM Rural Fireplace Readiness webpage at: https://www.blm.gov/applications/public-safety-and-fire/rural-fire-readiness-program
Picture caption: Pictured from left to proper are Tye Petersen, BLM Ely District fireplace administration officer; Steve Meldrum, Pahranagat Valley Volunteer Fireplace District Chief; Leevi Ahlvers, BLM Ely District mitigation specialist; and Marshall Davis, Pahranagat Valley Volunteer Fireplace District board member.
Supply By https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-ely-district-transfers-fire-engine-pahranagat-valley-volunteer-fire-district