Because of Pennsylvania's Wildlands Firefighters Camp, thousands of Pennsylvania wildfire fighters are among the best-trained in the country.

The camp has been operated by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources since 1983. More than 300 firefighters and Bureau of Forestry employees from across the state completed the 25th annual training on June 1.

"There is a reason Pennsylvania's volunteer wildfire fighters continue to get the call when the going gets rough with forest and brush fires across the country," said DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis. "This intensive weekend training program complements the spirit of these brave men and women and produces firefighters who are well-received on assignments throughout the country."

The Pennsylvania Wildlands Firefighters Camp at the Boy Scouts of America's Camp Karoondinha, near Glen Iron, Union County, offers beginner and advanced instruction, and plenty of hands-on activities and day-to-day assignments simulating actual wildfire duties.

Over the years, Pennsylvania has provided crews and highly specialized individuals to wildfires in many eastern states and every state west of the Mississippi. Most assignments require firefighters to travel as part of a 20-person crew.

"One has only to watch the evening news to realize that other parts of our country have wildfires on an entirely different scale than found in Pennsylvania," Secretary DiBerardinis said. "Different fuel types, weather conditions and terrain allow fires to grow into community-threatening monsters that require great effort to control. Pennsylvania wildfire fighters regularly receive high reviews for their training, attitude and knowledge."

A detailed training regimen has evolved at the Union County camp: firefighters march to and from classes; receive instructions for the upcoming weekend; and attend classes in pump or chain saw operation, wildfire behavior, and specialized positions. Squad and crew bosses, and others learn to work smoothly as part of an incident command system to determine just how each wildfire is fought.

All firefighters function as a part of a "crew" for the weekend, just as if they were on a large fire out West. They sleep in tents, march to classes and meals, and carry bag-lunches to their field training.

"After training and their out-of-state assignments, these Pennsylvania firefighters bring home more than the satisfaction of giving 100 percent," said Secretary DiBerardinis. "They bring back first-hand knowledge to help them fight large fires in our woodlands. They know how to work as a team in the face of impending disasters.

"There is a strong underlying 'You help me, I'll help you' approach to the cooperative effort to help other states fight fires," Secretary DiBerardinis added. "If we ever face a major wildfire in Pennsylvania, we know help is just a phone call away."

The first fire training camp was offered at Denton Hill State Park, Potter County, for 60 trainees in 1983. This year's attendees represent all of the state's 20 state forest districts.

For more information, visit the DCNR Forest Fire Protection webpage.

Link: Specialized Training Camps Hone Skills of Volunteer Forest Fire Fighters

6/6/2008