BLM seeks comment about proposed fire fighting facility on Prison Hill

Nevada Appeal Staff Report

The Bureau of Land Management is proposing to construct a new interagency fire facility on five acres of public land at the base of Prison Hill, just east of the intersection of South Edmonds Drive and Koontz Lane in Carson City, a BLM spokesman said Monday.

The proposed action will be discussed at the Carson City Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday.

According to BLM spokesman Mark Struble, the complex would include office and support buildings for BLM wildland fire engines and seasonal housing for BLM and Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest-Carson Ranger District firefighting personnel. This includes cooking, shower and bunk facilities to meet the needs of up to 40 federal firefighters.

The purpose of the proposed fire facility is to enhance federal firefighting capacity locally, regionally and nationally.

"Wildland firefighting is seasonal and temporary by nature. Most employees are hired in the spring and terminated in the fall," Struble said in a news release. "It is very difficult to recruit employees to work for five months, a typical fire season, from outside the commuting area without being able to provide affordable seasonal housing."

Struble said the facility would help recruit and retain firefighters who often find it hard to find summer housing in the area.

WHAT: Carson City Planning Commission meeting

WHEN: 5 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE: Sierra Room, Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.