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Big Bend National Park’s Fire Management program has benefited for thirteen years from the assistance of Mexican Nationals, living in villages immediately across the Rio Grande from the park. Approximately 38 men participate in a wildland firefighting program that began during 1990 and expanded in 1997. The firefighters are assigned to hand crews known as Los Diablos. This program has served as an example of co-operation between agencies of the two countries.
In 2002, a “breakout” year, the Los Diablos Program responded to wildland fire resource orders providing 116 firefighters while assisting on eight wildland fires/severity incidents covering 103 days. 21 firefighters assisted on 1 fuels management project for 9 days and 38 firefighters assisted on 1 BAER project for 13 days. The program earned $ 314,000 during 2002.
Additionally eight program participants completed their task books for Advanced Firefighters (Squad Boss).
Compared to 2001, 46 firefighters
assisted on seven wildland fires/severity incident for
28 days and 44 firefighters assisted on 2 fuels management
projects for 12 days. S-131 (Squad Boss) and S-212 (Powersaws)
training in Spanish were completed for those program
participants that were interested.
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