New standards for training, equipment and communication established this week will enhance the safety and efficiency of the partnership between the Bureau of Land Management and Oregon’s Rangeland Fire Protection Associations (RFPA). The intent is to ensure a cohesive, safe and efficient response when firefighters from RFPAs are working alongside state and Federal employees. The RFPAs are comprised primarily of ranchers in an area who have come together to respond to wildfires. Given the size and remoteness of many Western rangelands, local RFPAs are often the first to respond to a fire start, gaining valuable time until BLM crews arrive. Cooperation among these groups and the BLM, in Oregon as elsewhere, has been improving in recent years. The new standards, which set minimum age and training requirements as well as communication protocols and personal protective gear needs, also designate the Incident Command System as the management structure that will be used. All elements of the standards are designed to enhance the safety of all firefighters at an incident and facilitate efficient operations.