BLM Director Talks Workforce Equality with Western Colorado Fire Crew

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning met with a Western Colorado interagency wildland fire crew, which includes women and non-binary individuals, at the Grand Junction Air Center, Colorado, July 22. 

The meeting, which was more of a casual discussion, allowed the director to hear from the crew about what it’s like to work in the male-dominated profession of firefighting, and allowed the crew to ask the director what it’s like to be a woman in a senior role in government.

When asked for advice on how to best promote equality in their industry, the director said that in her experience, sometimes showing is more effective than telling.

“Don’t carry the weight of trying to fix hundreds of years of disparity on your individual shoulders,” said Stone-Manning. “But do show people the value of what you bring to the table.”

The crew, who returned the day before, worked together to support fire suppression activities on the Babylon Fire in the Manti-La National Forest, Utah. When Stone-Manning asked what the best part of working on a fire was, one crew member said it was their crew’s synergy.

“Being able to come together as a crew quickly – without fear and with complete trust in the people around you – that’s what I’ll remember most,” said Assistant Crew Leader Rachelle Seil.

The crew is a product of a wildfire developmental program organized by the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit and Western Colorado Conservation Corps. The program’s primary goal is to train, certify and place more women into wildland fire jobs.

Jeff Roberts, director of Western Colorado Conservation Corps, was present during the discussion and shared his gratitude for the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit.

“This team works very hard for this program,” he said. “They go to bat for these crews to get them worthwhile, hands-on training and experiences on active wildfires.”