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Wildfire response enhanced by Interior Department’s $1.3 million Slip-on Tanker Pilot Program

September 30, 2024

Local agencies receive grants to strengthen wildfire response

As reported by the National Interagency Fire Center, the U.S. Department of the Interior has announced nearly $1.3 million in funding as part of the Slip-on Tanker Pilot Program.

The funding, which is authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is aimed at enhancing local governments’ capacity to respond to wildfires.

This funding will assist small and remote emergency response agencies by converting their existing vehicles into wildland fire engines.

Twenty-one local emergency agencies across ten states, all serving communities with a moderate to high wildfire risk, will receive grants.

These grants, ranging from $10,000 to $200,000, were made available to local governments that provide emergency services to areas with populations of 25,000 or less.

Slip-on Tanker Pilot Program’s role in wildfire preparedness

The Slip-on Tanker Pilot Program seeks to improve wildfire preparedness by enabling local emergency agencies to expand their response capabilities.

This initiative comes in response to the growing threat of wildfires exacerbated by climate change and drought.

Secretary Deb Haaland said: “As the nation contends with devastating wildfires, the Interior Department is furthering our commitment to support local interagency partners as we work collectively to better prepare for and address these dangers.”

This program reflects a concerted effort to strengthen interagency coordination, a central theme in the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission’s report released in September 2023.

Federal support for wildfire resilience and management

The Slip-on Tanker Pilot Program is just one aspect of the federal government’s broader strategy to mitigate wildfire risks across the United States.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has allocated nearly $1.1 billion toward wildfire risk reduction on public and Tribal lands, as well as improving the support structure for federal wildland firefighters.

The Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission’s recommendations aim to enhance policies related to fire suppression and management, reinforcing the federal commitment to addressing the wildfire crisis.

The Department of the Interior’s efforts are part of this larger national strategy.

Future grant opportunities under the Slip-on Tanker Pilot Program

The Department of the Interior has also announced that a second round of grant opportunities under the Slip-on Tanker Pilot Program will be released in the fall of 2024.

The upcoming application details will be published in the Federal Register.

Local governments eligible for future rounds of funding will continue to benefit from grants that help expand their ability to combat wildfires.

By focusing on areas with significant wildfire risks, the program supports communities in preparing for and responding to increasing wildfire threats.

Wildfire response enhanced by Interior Department’s $1.3 million Slip-on Tanker Pilot Program: Summary

The U.S. Department of the Interior has awarded $1.3 million to 21 local emergency agencies across 10 states under the Slip-on Tanker Pilot Program.

This program, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to improve wildfire response capabilities in small, remote communities by converting vehicles into wildland fire engines.

Eligible agencies serve populations of 25,000 or less and are in areas with moderate to high wildfire risk.

The program also supports broader federal efforts to mitigate wildfire risks and enhance interagency collaboration.

A second round of grants will be announced in fall 2024.

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