BLM Northwest District Firefighters actively engaging area fires
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Craig, Colo. – Within the past two weeks, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) firefighters have responded to 23 fires throughout Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties.
Fire crews are actively engaging the Oil Springs Fire estimated at 5,000 acres 20 miles south of Rangely causing area evacuations and road closures https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7569/, and the West Fire in northwest Moffat County estimated at 700-800 acres burning in heavy lodge pole pine timbers https://blm.gov/press-release/blm-fire-crews-engaging-west-fire-northwest-moffat-county.
To combat area fires, BLM Northwest District Fire and Aviation (NWDFA) has five initial attack fire engines staffed with three to five firefighters and 1 hotshot crew.
Considered a national resource, the Craig Hotshots spend most of the summer crisscrossing the west suppressing wildfires providing a mobile professional skilled hand crew for all phases of fire management and incident operations.
“The yellow fire engines driving around Northwest Colorado are the first resources to arrive at a wildfire to protect lives and property and prevent further spread of the fire,” said Northwest District Fire and Aviation Fire Management Specialist Brandon Voegtle. “BLM fire engines responded to fires on BLM land in Northwest Colorado and will travel to other parts of the country if it is a slow fire season.”
NWDFA firefighters respond to an average of 180 wildfires on BLM land in northwest Colorado yearly, and also assist other agencies with private, state, National Park Service, and Forest Service fires. Fire season in northwest Colorado usually last June through September.
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.