BLM Canyon Country assists in equipping local firefighters
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MOAB, Utah – Good communication between agencies is a crucial component for a well-coordinated interagency fire suppression response and being a good neighbor is important too. To further those aims, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Canyon Country fire managers recently transferred 17 handheld radios to 3 local fire departments. Providing portable radios to local volunteer fire departments enables local firefighters to communicate with other resources on a fire, as well as the interagency fire dispatch center.
Our local fire departments and the BLM work together on federal, state and private land fires so the radios are a win-win for both agencies," said Canyon Country Fire Management Officer Clark Maughan. “The equipment helps our interagency wildland fire partners with one of the most important components of firefighter safety — communications.”
Bluff Fire Department received 3 of the radios, San Juan County Fire received 6 and Moab Valley Fire Department received 8 radios. It’s all part of the BLM's Rural Fire Readiness (RFR) program which allows the BLM to provide fire equipment to partners at— no cost to them so — they can all continue to safely and efficiently suppress wildland fires together.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.