Choctaw nation soon to be home to first tribal-led wildland fire module

It is sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service. The team of experts will travel across the country to prevent wildfires and focus on fuel management.

The Choctaw Nation describes the group as almost like a SWAT team but for firefighting. It will be compromised entirely of tribal members, expertly trained to prevent wildfires.

“We’re hoping that it produces an opportunity for some of our tribal members to get out and see the world,” said Tom Lowry, senior director of natural resources for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Choctaw Nation will see the country’s first wildland fire module made up of tribal members and sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service.

“They tend to be some of the most elite of the firefighting forces. This group is sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service and they will be performing fuel management projects in the 13 southern states,” Lowry said.

The team will be geared toward improving forest health, whether that’s prescribed burning, removing hazardous trees or reducing the risk of wildfire through fuel reduction projects.

“Where a federal employee would normally experience in five years going on projects, we can provide that in one year,” Lowry said.

Choctaw Nation hopes this will be the first step in creating opportunities for tribal members.

“Already looking at the next thing. We hope that we will soon be partnering with other federal agencies to provide them with services that may be a little difficult for them to manage right now,” Lowry said.

In a statement from the U.S. Forest Service, they said they’re proud of the partnership, 30 years and counting. They said, “We are proud to continue our partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. The potential to create a tribal wildland fire module would build on our more than 30-year collaboration. The tribal fire module would provide a skilled, efficient workforce that carries out prescribed fires and reduces the risk of wildfire. Most Southerners live near a forest. They value forests for producing clean air and water, and for providing a home for wildlife.”

The team will be a small team of eight to 10 members. The Choctaw Nation said they’ll begin recruiting from their own forest service.