Training the next generation of wildland firefighters

Kyburz Fire 667 personnel. Lowell Fire 771 personnel. Washington Fire 1,113 personnel.

These recent fires in the forests near Lake Tahoe have had hundreds of fire fighters on the ground, digging fire lines, cutting down trees and putting out fires. It's not an easy job, the hours are sometimes endless or never enough. But those that do it, love it.

The U.S. Forest Service has been training the next front line of defense against forest fires.

Last week, 12 members of the California Conservation Corps (CCC) finished up their training to be on a wildland firefighting team. The 40 hour course included 32 hours in the classroom and the final eight hours in the field, putting their newly learned skills to the test.

In the meadows and hills of Meeks Bay, the CCC crew, along with trainers, firefighters and two biologist/forestry technicians, learned safety, how to handle hoses and fire devices, build trails and cut trees. Their day included hiking into the hills and digging a fire line with a full pack on, just as they would in a real wildfire situation.

The fire line they are digging will be used for a controlled burn this fall. Killing two birds with one stone, or as a forestry person would say, growing two plants with one seed.

The two stations the students completed involved water handling and fire setting. There is much more to fighting a fire with a hose than just aiming it as we do in our gardens, and each recruit learned how to carry and lay out hoses, clamp them and aim at the flames. There is also a skill set needed to fight fire with fire, and Casey Hoffman of the USFS showed them how to handle handle a drip torch and a flare gun.

Dave Marion of the U.S. Forest Service has led two of these training sessions so far this season, and will soon teach a community member training class. Normally, training of new fire crews takes place three or four times a year.