Funds For Rural Fire Departments
Four Interior agencies will distribute $10 million to rural fire departments as part of the larger national fire plan to reduce wildfire risks in communities in the wildland urban interface. Congress allocated the money for the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Fish and Wildlife Service in the 2001 appropriations bill as a pilot program that could be continued. The Department of Agriculture's Forest Service has a long-standing, similar program to assist rural fire departments.
"The money will be divided among the agencies, and the agencies will distribute the money to their local offices," said Bill Casey, the BLM lead for rural firefighting assistance. "The field offices, working with local partners, will develop a process to disburse the money."
Rod Bloms, of the Fish and Wildlife Service, said that rural fire departments interested in obtaining a share of the funds should get in touch with the closest office of the four Interior agencies involved in the program. Funding priorities will be developed by the local office, in consultation with cooperators and local departments. The funds will be used for training, equipment, and fire prevention work. To participate in the program, rural fire departments must meet eligibility requirements. For more information, visit www.nifc.gov.