RENO — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada has committed $1.79 million to support wildfire risk reduction efforts across the state through the Wildland Fire Community Assistance Program. The funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help local fire departments, counties, and non-profit organizations implement fuels management projects aimed at reducing wildfire risks to communities.
The funds will be distributed to four Nevada-based partners who will work on projects to treat fuels on non-federal lands. These efforts are critical to mitigating the increasing threat of wildfires in the state, particularly in areas where public lands are adjacent to residential communities.
“Wildfires pose an ongoing threat to Nevada, and our focus is on prevention and preparation,” said Kelsey Griffee, Acting State Fire Management Officer for BLM Nevada. “By supporting local efforts, we are working to make communities safer and more resilient to wildfire.”
In 2024, BLM Nevada achieved a record level of fuels treatments, treating over 295,000 acres, including more than 52,000 acres within the wildland-urban interface. In addition to fuels treatments, BLM Nevada has rolled out advanced wildfire detection technology, including AI-powered smoke detection cameras, in partnership with the University of Nevada, Reno. These efforts have improved response times and increased situational awareness across the state.
The 2025 projects supported by the new funding aim to build on these initiatives. The Nevada Fire Chiefs Association will use a portion of the funds to assist communities with hazardous fuels reduction, create defensible space around critical infrastructure, and boost public awareness efforts. The funding will also support ongoing education about wildfire prevention and the creation of fire-adapted communities.
“These programs help reduce wildfire risks, protect homes, and ensure the safety of our firefighters,” said Matthew J. Petersen, Elko County Fire Chief and president of the Nevada Fire Chiefs Association. “By mitigating wildfire threats and creating defensible spaces, we can lower insurance costs and improve long-term safety for Nevadans.”
The funded projects include:
Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District: A five-year initiative to reduce wildfire risk in Washoe County and Carson City through community education, defensible space consultations, fuels treatments, and long-term planning for fire-resilient communities.
Nevada Fire Chiefs Association: A statewide project to support hazardous fuels reduction, enhance fire safety, and raise public awareness in areas at risk of wildfire.
Elko County Fire Protection District: Year two of a mitigation project that will treat an additional 600 acres of high-risk areas, conduct community workshops, and maintain previously treated areas.
Living with Fire: A summit focused on wildfire preparedness, providing resources and networking opportunities for communities and fire management agencies across Nevada.
Griffee emphasized the importance of collaboration in managing wildfire risks. “Partnering with local agencies is essential to addressing wildfire threats that span across both public and private lands,” he said. “These projects will strengthen our collective efforts to protect Nevada’s communities and natural resources from the increasing threat of wildfires.”