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MONTROSE, Colorado – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Southwest Colorado Fire and Aviation Management Unit transferred 10 two-way radios to the Egnar Volunteer Fire Department in San Miguel County, to enhance their wildland firefighting capabilities. The radios were transferred under BLM’s Rural Fire Readiness (RFR) program, which is designed to provide equipment to local wildland firefighting partners at no cost.

“The BLM works closely with local and rural fire departments to suppress wildland fires that threaten communities, property and natural resources,” says Brandon Lewis, BLM Fire Management Officer. “This equipment will improve the Egnar Volunteer Fire Department’s wildfire response capabilities as we work together to fight wildfires in southwest Colorado.”

Cooperative partnerships between the BLM and local and rural fire departments are crucial to remote wildfire response on private, state and federal lands affecting grazing, recreational, wildlife and other values important to local economies. Every year, an average of 4,553 wildfires burn approximately 131,016 acres of land in Colorado.

The BLM accepts applications from local fire departments for available vehicles, equipment and supplies. To receive wildland firefighting vehicles, equipment and supplies through the RFR program, local fire departments must meet a number of requirements. They must:

• have an existing cooperative fire response agreement with the BLM,
• serve a rural community or area,
• have wildland fire protection responsibilities, and
• be in close proximity to BLM-administered lands and respond to wildland fires in support of BLM when available and as needed.

For more information on the RFR program, please contact Brandon Lewis at 970-240-5351 or bclewis@blm.gov.