Department of interior DOI , office of wildland fire OWF - slip-on tanker units - 2025

The Department of Interior's Office of Wildland Fire awarded $246,420 to Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District on September 3, 2025, under the Department of Interior Wildfire Management – Preparedness program (CFDA 15.088). This project grant funds the acquisition of slip-on tanker units that enable rapid conversion of existing vehicles into operational fire engines for wildland firefighting response. The award supports the district's wildfire preparedness capabilities in Oregon, with a completion deadline of September 2, 2026.

This pilot program, authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, addresses escalating wildfire threats by enhancing local firefighting response capabilities through equipment that meets specific technical specifications for pump capacity and water tank volume. As a child entity of Oregon's local government structure, Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District will procure and install the slip-on tanker units to establish a deployable vehicle fleet for emergency wildfire response, with no cost-sharing requirements imposed on the recipient. The equipment installation will occur at the district's location in Oregon, strengthening community resilience against intensifying wildland fire dangers.