Bureau of Land Management transfers fire engine to Cortez Volunteer Fire Department

A news release Friday announced that the Bureau of Land Management transferred a Type IV fire engine to the Cortez Volunteer Fire Department as part of the BLM Rural Fire Readiness Program. The truck will go to Cortez Fire’s Station 2, located on County Road 24.

“The BLM works closely with the Cortez Volunteer Fire Department to suppress wildland fires that threaten communities, property, and natural resources,” said BLM Fire Management Officer Brandon Lewis.

According to BLM’s website, the Rural Fire Readiness program aims to enhance firefighting capabilities for wildland firefighters.

“The program allows the BLM to provide training and equipment to our partners – at no cost to them – so we can continue to safely and efficiently suppress wildland fires together,” the BLM’s website states.

Eligible wildland firefighting partners may receive training or equipment such as engines, water tenders, radios, hand tools, personal protective equipment and more. Fire departments must meet certain criteria to qualify for the program:

Every year in Colorado, 5,618 wildfires scorch about 237,500 acres of land. Partnerships between local fire departments and BLM are necessary to respond to wildfires on private, state, and federal lands “to protect grazing, recreation, wildlife, and other values important to local economies,” the news release stated.