BLM expands aircraft capabilities in Mountain Home to fight wildland fire

BOISE, Idaho–The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Boise District will begin construction on the Mountain Home Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) Base at the Mountain Home Municipal Airport on July 21, 2024. The new base will expand aircraft availability to respond more quickly to fight wildland fires in southwestern Idaho and the surrounding area.

The Mountain Home SEAT Base will include several critical components: a fire-retardant loading pad, a containment area, an evaporation pond, two taxilanes, an operations building, and a storage facility. This pivotal project is funded by the BLM through a lease agreement with the City of Mountain Home Airport.

“This facility will significantly enhance our local and regional wildland fire aviation support capacity. Mountain Home’s central location is strategically advantageous, enabling us to efficiently support both local and regional communities,” said BLM Boise District Fire Management Officer Chris Cromwell. “This area experiences one of the highest amount of new fires in the country, making this facility crucial for our firefighting efforts.”

The SEAT Base improvements will further the BLM’s mission to be a good steward of public lands and continue to provide professional wildfire response to local and nearby geographic areas.

“We’re extremely excited to see the new improvements to the SEAT Base get underway and look forward to the opportunities this will afford us in the coming years,” added Cromwell.

The project is expected to be completed by May 2025, in time for the 2025 fire season. Follow Idaho Fire Info at https://www.idahofireinfo.com/ for the latest wildland fire information.

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