BLM WY Rural Fire Assistance

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The RFA program was established to improve safety and enhance wildland firefighting resource capability and readiness of rural and volunteer fire departments; to decrease wildland fire-related losses to rural economies through enhanced local fire protection; and to help[ reduce Federal, state, tribal and local expenditures on wildland fire suppression, particularly in the wildland-urban interface. The RFA program provides funding to rural and volunteer fire departments serving those communities of less than 10,000 persons. These departments must be party to a cooperative agreement with the BLM, a County Fire District, State Forester or equivalent entity in Wyoming. Eligible departments serve as cooperators with BLM in the suppression of wildland fires within and in the vicinity of BLM administered lands. The recipients are to use the grant funding for basic wildland firefighting equipment needs such as new generation fire shelters, protective clothing and related personal protective equipment, basic tools and communications items, and wildland training courses and activities. The recipients will be required to provide a yearly 10% matching contribution. The recipients will use the grant funding to increase preparedness for assistance to BLM suppressing wildland fires in Wyoming.

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