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MOAB, UT — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Canyon Country Fire Zone recently transferred eleven handheld radios to three local fire departments under the BLM's Rural Fire Readiness (RFR) program. The program provides essential wildland firefighting equipment to local firefighting partners at no cost which aids in updating equipment and eases operating costs to local citizens.

“In southeastern Utah, partnerships between the BLM and local fire departments is crucial for a well-coordinated interagency fire suppression response that minimizes the threat wildfire poses to our communities, property, and natural resources,” says Canyon Country District Fire Management Officer Clark Maughan. “Good communication is one of the most important components of that coordinated fire suppression effort and is crucial to firefighter safety.”  

The Canyon Country District Office based in Moab, UT provided five radios to the San Juan County Volunteer Fire Department, four to the Blanding City Fire Department and two to the Thompson Springs Special Service Fire District. Local fire agencies often use radios that operate on different frequencies. This can make communicating and operating safely with federal firefighters in a wildland fire environment difficult. By providing portable radios to local volunteer fire departments, local firefighters will be able to communicate with other resources on the fire, as well as the interagency fire dispatch center.

The equipment was used for many seasons by BLM fire staff at local and national incidents.