BIA Forestry & Fire Management - Southern Plains Region

10/01/2025

Due to the federal government shutdown, this account is not being actively updated.
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Operations in the Absence of Appropriations

10/24/2024

Oyler spike camp. Challis Mountain, Idaho. Day 11, Tuesday, October 22, 2024, looking forward to a 21 day fire assignment. Camp crew members are from the Cheyenne & Arapaho, Potawatomi, and Iowa Tribes. Thank you Camp Crew for all you do. Stay warm and we’ll see you all in a few weeks. Safe travels home.

The Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes and Horton Agency will be recruiting for new Firefighters and Camp Crewmembers for the 2025 Fire season. Keep a lookout for the upcoming posts.

10/16/2024

Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs Search and Rescue Representatives. The Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma and Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas sent 9 fire personnel to assist with the Hurricane Helene Search and Rescue efforts in North Carolina on October 4, 2024. The 9 Tribal firefighters are; Jeff Elizondo, FFT1(T), Sam Youngubull, FFT1(T), Cheryl Candy, FFT2/FAL3(T), Bryan Sevenstar, FFT2, Tim Raya, FFT2, and Anthony Albert, FFT2, Alabama Coushatta Fire Personnel; Mykiah Williams, EMTP/FFT1, Lucas Williams, FFT2, Kyle Stafford, FFT2/FAL3.

The Tribal firefighters will return home in a few days. The SPR Fire Management would like to thank all of the first responders for the assistance given during the catastrophic flood recovery. Have a safe return home. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those affected by Hurricane(s) Helene and Milton.

Aho! (Thank you)

BIA and Tribal Firefighters below are from the Southern Plains, Pacific, Southwest and Eastern Regions. Photos by Travis Scott, NPS PIO.

10/12/2024

The Southern Plains Region (SPR) Fire Management did a site visit to Indian City on Thursday, October 10, 2024. This weekend is the Kiowa Black Leggings Warrior Society ceremony. Western Oklahoma is in a severe drought. Caddo, Grady, Comanche and Kiowa are in County burn bans. Fire personnel will be staged and patrolling western Oklahoma. The SPR Fire Management has requested additional fire personnel from the Horton Agency, Horton, Kansas and the Zuni Agency, Zuni, New Mexico. Out of state fire resources will assist our local resources when needed.

The Indian City trust land is a high priority with historical and cultural significance. The SPR Fuels Management is planning a thinning treatment to reduce the Eastern Red Cedar within the historical boundaries. The re-introduction of prescribed fire will reduce the potential of Catastrophic wildfire to the critically sensitive area. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is proud to collaborate with the Kiowa Tribe to reduce hazardous fuels accumulations on Trust and Tribal fee land.

We’d like to thank Mr. Dixon Palmer for some of the history of the Black Leggings Society.

Aho! (Thank you)

10/10/2024

The Bureau of Indian Affairs Fire and Fuels Management often has openings throughout Indian Country. If you see an advertisement that is of interest, the weblink below may be able to help you.

https://www.firejobs.doi.gov/search-jobs https://www.nifc.gov/careers/how-to-apply

Video 1: Introduction to USAJOBS Video 2: How to navigate USAJOBS Video 3: How to create a USAJOBS account and login Video 4: How to build a government resume for USAJOBS Video 5: How to personalize and save a USAJOBS search Video 6: How to personalize and save a USAJOBS search Video 7: Navigating f...

10/01/2024

The Southern Plains Region Fire Prevention Team participated in the Comanche Nation Fair Parade on Saturday, September 28, 2024. Fire Personnel from the Alabama, Coushatta, Kickapoo and Potawatomi Tribes assisted local Fire Prevention personnel. Thank you for the good work!

08/26/2024

The Cheyenne and Arapaho (C&A) Tribes recently hosted the Branch Chief of Fuels Management at Concho, Oklahoma on Thursday, August 22, 2024. The C&A Tribes have submitted a Reserved Treaty Rights Lands (RTRL) proposal for the fuels management of the Sand Creek Massacre Site. Work will include prescribed to reduce the sage brush & tumbleweed and hand thinning to remove flood debris. The collaborative project is with the National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs and C&A Tribes. The meeting also included site visits to the White Rabbit Mech treatment site, Caddo Springs Mech and Rx treatment sites, Buffalo Lakes Rx and Bison Habitat Restoration plans. Thank you Mr. Jackson for working with the Tribes on planned RTRL and Hazardous Fuels Reduction programming. Come back anytime, we'll have a onion burger ready! Haho! (Thank you)

08/14/2024

Great job Alabama Coushatta Fire 🔥! Continued appreciation to all Southern Plains fire personnel for assisting our interagency partners this summer. A-ho! (thank you).

BIA Wildland Fire Management - Navajo Region would like to recognize our Navajo Helitack crew currently assigned in Colville, Washington. The crew is assisting with initial attack and various missions for the BIA Forestry & Wildland Fire Management - Northwest Region. We appreciate their commitment to the assignment and safe operating procedures.

Here, they are joined with crewmembers from Alabama-Coushatta Wildland Fire Management, from Livingston, Texas. Thank you everyone and stay safe!

08/10/2024

Happy 80th Birthday Smokey Bear! The Southern Plains Region Fire Management had cake and ice cream with the honoree today. Thank you firefighters for taking time to celebrate with Smokey Bear. Parts of western Oklahoma are in a severe drought. Be careful while parking in tall grass and never drive into smoke obstructed roads.

08/01/2024

A portion of Western Oklahoma is currently in a severe drought. Be careful when your outside with any potential ignition source. In the event of wildfire call 911 immediately.

05/14/2024

Congratulations to Mr. Nathaniel Taliman and Mr. Nolan Taliman on a job well done! The 2024 Riverside Graduates will be able to assist the Tribes and Nation as wildland firefighters in the summer of 2024. Thank you Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Fire Management, Riverside Indian School, and SPR Fire Management for the development of our newest addition to the fire community. The Southern Plains Region Fire Management looks forward to expanding recruitment to more Riverside Indian School and Haskell University Students. Wishing the best for all of our firefighters, be safe out there.

Pictured:
Ryan Blackstar- Fire Prevention Tech., Nathaniel Taliman, Nolan Taliman, and Jose Tenorio- Fire Operation Specialist (west zone).

The Taliman Brothers obtained their Basic Firefighter qualifications and passed their physical fitness Pack Test through The Southern Plains Region Fire Management, making them qualified Firefighters (Type 2 Wildland Firefighters). They will soon receive Basic Sawyer Qualifications and Engine Operators (ENOP) training to join the Engine Crew!

Nate and Nolan, we are so proud of you both!!

Pictured:
Ryan Blackstar- Fire Prevention Tech., Nathaniel Taliman, Nolan Taliman, and Jose Tenorio- Fire Operation Specialist (west zone).
(Not Pictured- Sheldon Sankey- Regional Fire Management Officer.)

03/12/2024

Mr. Larry Clark, Prevention Technician for the Pawnee/Shawnee protection area held a FI-110, Wildland Fire Observations and Origin Scene Protection for First Responders on Monday, March 4, 2024 at the Pawnee Tribal Fire Department. Thank you Larry and keep up the Good Work! Photo taken by Chris McCroy, Pawnee FD.