On July 25, a second 20-person wildfire crew from DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry will leave from Moshannon State Forest headquarters in Clearfield County, this time to make a 40-hour drive to fight wildfires in northern California.

The first 20-person crew was called to fight wildfires in Colorado and Wyoming on July 16.  Read more here.

Last year DCNR was called to send two 20-person crews, two wildfire fighting vehicles, 20 individuals as single resources for a total of 74 personnel.

When states and agencies need assistance, Pennsylvania wildland firefighters may be called upon, by virtue of mutual assistance agreements, to assist.

Pennsylvania firefighters are trained and qualified under national wildland standards to function either as a member of an organized incident management team or as a member of a wildland crew.

Firefighters are required to carry their own tent and sleeping bag to fire camp. In order to be assigned to the fire, firefighters must be equipped with flame resistant clothing (such as Nomex), leather lug-soled boots, hardhat, leather gloves, eye protection and a fire shelter before being allowed to work on the fire-line.

Click Here for more on the crews.

For more on wildfires in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s Wildfire webpage.

NewsClips:

AP: Evacuation Orders Continued In Northern California Wildfires

AP: Wildfire Coverage In U.S., Around The World

Related Articles:

-- DCNR Awards $591,975 Grants To Support Volunteer Fire Companies To Fight Wildfires Across PA

-- Blair County Residents Urged Not To Burn After Brush Fires

-- July 22 Resource Newsletter Now Available From DCNR

-- July 24 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation

[Posted: July 24, 2020]

7/27/2020