Remote Fire Protection Safeguards Sloan Canyon

The Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area just outside Henderson, Nevada, is known as the “Sistine Chapel of Native American Rock Art.” Visitors from around the world regularly drop by the desert to experience one of the most significant displays of petroglyphs in North America.

So, it’s no wonder the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is constructing a permanent Visitor Contact Station at the site, featuring a museum, restrooms, and an amphitheater for the public to enjoy this culturally rich landscape.

But the location is remote, so if a fire breaks out, it would take emergency personnel a long time to respond. Time that the new visitor center can’t afford. That’s why the facility is being outfitted with a sprinkler system and a fire hydrant right out front, so the building is prepared if a fire ignites.

This is all a part of BLM’s broader national fire management program, which focuses on wildfire prevention and rapid response across public lands. For this project, the agency required a reliable pump system capable of supplying water to the sprinklers and fire hydrant at a moment’s notice.

And that’s where Jensen Infrastructure steps in.

Jensen provided a massive four-piece custom structure including a 41,000 lb base slab, two risers, and a 44,190 lb cover slab. Because of its size and weight, oversized load permits were required, and components were shipped in sequence to match the installation plan.

Jensen coordinated closely with NDX, LLC and Dielco Crane Service, Inc. to safely set the vault in a single day, ensuring the installation aligned with the project’s tight schedule.

The vault connects directly to a large onsite storage tank and houses a pump that will feed both the building’s internal sprinkler system and the exterior fire hydrant. Originally specified as cast-in-place, the structure transitioned to precast concrete to help the contractor remain within a strict excavation and installation window. By manufacturing the vault offsite, Jensen eliminated curing delays, reduced the duration of open excavation, and delivered a ready-to-install solution that kept the project moving forward.

Measuring 12’-8”W x 18’L x 9’H, the vault serves as a shield protecting the mechanical heart of the facility’s fire suppression system. Installing a fully independent fire protection system that doesn’t rely solely on rapid emergency response gives the visitor center a puncher’s chance if a wildfire ignites nearby.

Also, placing the pump system underground in a precast vault keeps critical equipment safe from extreme temperatures, tampering, and environmental exposure while remaining accessible for maintenance. The result is a fire suppression solution designed to protect the new facility and help preserve one of Nevada’s most culturally significant landscapes.

Got a remote project that needs some extra attention? Contact Jensen Infrastructure today.