- Community outreach
- Communication plans
- Interagency coordination
- Targeting of common origins and causes of human-caused fires
- Public information and multi-media messaging
- Product development and distribution methods
Ready Reserve Program
The Ready Reserve Program was developed solely to assist rural and volunteer fire departments with costs associated with training firefighters to meet national requirements. The BLM is able to hold training sessions through a unique interagency process, where the Arizona State Land Department provides the money to rural and volunteer fire departments which assist in the suppression of wildland fires on federal lands.
In 2006, the BLM was fortunate to receive $50,000 to train Rural Fire Department and Volunteer Fire Department personnel at the Arizona Wildfire Academy. Additionally, the agency received $33,000 to establish a mobile training program for firefighters who were unable to attend the academy.
Rural Fire Assistance
Rural fire departments supply invaluable assistance to federal agencies each year during fire season, providing personnel and equipment to manage wildland fires across Arizona. The BLM is able to provide funding to rural and volunteer fire departments through its Rural Fire Assistance (RFA) and Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) programs. In 2006, the BLM allocated over $475,000 to rural fire department personnel training, personal protection equipment, radios and associated firefighting gear. Agency partners in this program include the Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona State Land Department, Arizona State Fire Marshall and the Arizona Fire District Association. A strict process is followed, and fire departments requesting federal funds must detail their wildland firefighting efforts and priorities. An interagency board then prioritizes these applications for funding assistance, and money is then allocated.
BLM Arizona is an active partner with local governments, local firefighting agencies and state and federal land management agencies. Through this cooperative partnership, Community Wildfire Protection Plans and Wildfire Hazard and Mitigation Plans are developed, fuel treatments are planned and implemented, school education programs are implemented and defensible space concepts are taught to private landowners and community groups. Several community plans have been completed around the state in recent years. These plans include:
Prevention Links