Contact: Cullen Werwie, 608-267-7303
MADISON – Governor Scott Walker today announced that Wisconsin will provide specialized wild-land firefighting equipment and trained fire personnel to Texas to assist in suppressing wildfires that have burned over one and a half million acres there in recent weeks. A formal request for fire suppression resources recently came to the Division of Forestry from Texas on April 28th.
“Requests such as this come as a great compliment to our fire control program,” said Governor Walker. “When we see our neighbors in need of immediate fire suppression assistance, it is only natural for us to provide what resources we can and the partnerships we’ve built with various fire programs allow us to do just that.”
The state of Texas has been battling extensive fire activity as a result of prolonged drought and numerous wildfire starts as a result of unsafe burning of debris and sparks from equipment. Looking for assistance to battle the blazes from around the country, the Texas Forest Service is formally asking for help from Wisconsin. Through national cooperative fire suppression agreements, agencies experiencing extended or extensive wildfire events can request assistance from other partners. The state requesting the aid pays all expenses associated with the aid including equipment transport, operation, and maintenance and all salary and fringe costs for staff accompanying the equipment.
“Texas has requested assistance and I am glad to help where we can,” said Gov. Walker. “I’ve checked with Secretary Stepp who has assured me that we have progressed far enough within our own fire season to be able to provide assistance to Texas while maintaining optimum forest fire protection here in Wisconsin. “
Wisconsin will provide assistance to Texas in the form of four bulldozers that pull unique plows designed and fabricated in Wisconsin. The tracked dozers and plows are used to construct fire lines at the flanks of a fire to prevent wider spread of the fire or to protect high value property at risk from an advancing fire. An additional heavy dozer will also be sent to Texas for an initial period of 14 days. If fires persist beyond the initial assignment, additional personnel may be rotated in to continue the operation.
“This is an opportunity to help another state and a chance to provide valuable experience and training to our fire control personnel,” said DNR Division of Forestry Administrator, Paul DeLong. “Both Texas and Wisconsin have established strong partnerships with local fire departments and use similar forest fire suppression equipment and tactics. Texas has come to our aid in previous years during drought-related active fire seasons in Wisconsin. It’s great to be able to return the favor and continue our very beneficial mutual aid relationship.”
For more information on the current fire situation here in Wisconsin, visit http://www.dnr.wi.gov/wisburn
