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DCNR Secretary Salutes Forest Fire Wardens, Firefighters

Some came to receive awards, others were there to renew professional ties and brush up on wildfire detection, investigation and protection techniques, but when the 60 men and women filed from the Shavers Creek Volunteer fire hall all took home the same thing—warm thanks from DCNR Secretary Ellen Ferretti.

“We may have 2.2 million acres of state forestlands, but we have 17 million acres of woodlands stretching across Pennsylvania—and we need all the help we can get when wildfire threats often soar in spring and fall,” Ferretti told attendees at the March 4 gathering. “When we see the wildfire devastation in other states, we must always be appreciative of the dedication of folks like you—our fire wardens and volunteer fire companies.”

The DCNR secretary was the featured speaker at the annual Rothrock State Forest District Forest Fire Warden Training Meeting, bringing together both local volunteer firefighters and Bureau of Forestry employees to improve and honor district efforts in prevention, suppression, and investigation of local forest fires.

Each district conducts this annual training for its local Pa. Forest Fire Wardens and volunteer fire department members who cooperate in local wildfire suppression.

Ferretti thanked her listeners for their “extended history of serving long, volunteer hours to be the local eyes, ears and boots on the ground in detecting, fighting and preventing wildfires—often on private land.

“Thankfully, I know these efforts do not go unnoticed. I see the media accounts of your prevention programs and school appearances.”

Marked by a proud history in which their 100th anniversary will be celebrated in 2015, about 1,600 men and women serve as volunteer Pa. Forest Fire Wardens. Properly trained local forest fire wardens are appointed primarily to detect, extinguish and investigate wildfires.

Wardens actively promote fire prevention in their community, often visiting schools and civic groups in a statewide, team-effort that earned them a national salute from the USDA Forest Service.

In summer 2013, federal officials applauded the “Wardens Helping In Prevention,” or WHIP, program, created in 1988. The all-volunteer team developed a warden manual enabling them to better incorporate public education into their wildfire fighting and prevention duties. The program is an all-volunteer effort.

“Understandably, this program has developed strong ties among the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and other state agencies, volunteer fire departments and school districts. Some of your program volunteers oversee as many as 150 programs a year!” Ferretti said. “You folks are very adept, indeed, in spreading the word on the dangers of wildfires and the need to prevent them. DCNR is proud to be a part of your team effort.”

The DCNR secretary also participated in award ceremonies, joining in the presentation of the annual Arthur N. Creelman Award for distinguished wildfire prevention work. Honoring the late former chief of the bureau’s Division of Forest Fire Protection, recognized as a national leader in wildfire prevention, the award honors recipients with an outstanding desire to disseminate the wildfire prevention message throughout their lifetime.

The Creelman award was presented to volunteer William Shaffer, along with recognition for overseeing 14 WHIP programs.

Other attendees honored include: Kermit Port, WHIP Award for one program; Dave Felice, WHIP Award for 11 programs and service award for 15 years as a fire warden; Buddy Houck, Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department and Tony Berrena, Alpha Volunteer Fire Department, recipients of appreciation plaques for assistance provided to the district on a prescribed fire project; Dave Coder, WHIP award for nine programs and service award for 30 years as a fire warden; and Frank Yoder, recognized for 2013 service on an out-of-state, federal fire assignment.

(Reprinted from DCNR’s March 19 Resource newsletter.)


3/24/2014

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