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BLM sharing wildfire information at ITD rest areas in south-central Idaho

A healthy dose of winter moisture and spring showers often leads to wonderful green grasses and a healthy landscape throughout the deserts and mountains of southern Idaho. It can also lead to a wealth of fuel for summer fire season.

With the ultimate goal of preventing wildfire and raising awareness of current conditions, the Twin Falls district of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has incorporated posters and updated information at each of the rest areas within District 4.

According to Kelsey Brizendine, fire information and prevention officer for the Twin Falls district BLM, the signs will be updated regularly by BLM staff. The information at each rest area will include fire information for that area, key information about restrictions, closures and prevention information.

“Our partnership with the Idaho Transportation Department allows our fire message to reach thousands of travelers each day,” Brizendine said. “Southern Idaho and the Twin Falls District BLM have a large number of tourists that come through the area on their way to recreational sites, events and tours.”

ITD provided space in the existing display areas at the Bliss, Cotterell, Juniper and Timmerman rest areas and agreed to allow the BLM to install display areas at the Hagerman and Jerome rest areas.

Posters and fire safety messages had been a regular sight at a couple of rest areas in the past, but the effort to include each District 4 rest area – with a hope to expand the message to neighboring districts in the future – will give ample opportunity to share the information to the greatest number of users.

“By working with ITD, we are able to place information at key locations where the public will be able to easily access current local fire information, fire prevention information and closure information. This information is crucial to recreational users and having it located in all the rest areas in the Magic Valley allows us to better serve the community,” Brizendine said.

The Twin Falls District BLM manages 3.9 million acres across three different field offices in Burley, Jarbidge and Shoshone. The area stretches east to American Falls, north nearly to Redfish Lake, west to the Bruneau Canyon and includes a portion of Nevada.