WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of the Interior has launched a pilot program aimed at converting vehicles into wildland fire engines. Funded by an initial $5 million investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this initiative aims to help small, remote emergency response agencies enhance their capacity for dealing with climate change-induced wildfires.
Secretary Deb Haaland underscored the urgency of such measures in light of the escalating intensity and frequency of wildfires due to climate change. “This pilot program will help more local and state agencies quickly respond when a wildfire starts nearby, increasing their capacity to protect local communities, property, infrastructure, and precious natural and cultural resources,” she said.
Under this program, local governments can purchase slip-on tanker units, enabling them to swiftly convert trucks and other vehicles into wildland fire engines. This resource is available to local governments that provide emergency services to areas with a population of 25,000 or less. Grants ranging between $10,000 and $200,000 will be made available, with $5 million allocated for the first round of the pilot program.
The initiative aligns with the recommendations of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission’s final report, released in September 2023. The commission, created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was tasked with improving federal policies related to wildland fire mitigation, suppression, management, and the rehabilitation of fire-devastated lands.
This pilot program is part of a broader effort to address the nation’s wildfire crisis, with over $785 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated by the Interior Department to increase land resilience and support federal wildland firefighters.
Local governments keen on joining the fight against wildfires can submit grant applications through Grants.gov’s website by March 21, 2024. More details about the program and application process will be available in the Federal Register in the coming days.
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