Wildland

The Benefits and Importance of Diversity in the Fire Service

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Demographically speaking, our nation’s fire departments are not diverse. Consider the following workforce statistics from 2019 reported by Data USA: 95.8% of firefighters were male. 79.9% of firefighters were white and non-Hispanic. Many communities have started improving their efforts to recruit a more diverse workforce. For these programs to succeed, it’s important to recognize two …

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Professional Development: Tips on How to Get Your Program Started

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To be a student of the job means you chase unfamiliar factors tirelessly until you find a solution or answer. Seeking the answer on how to start and manage a Professional Development Program became my newfound passion in the fire service. The development and implementation of this program began as a priority for McHenry Township …

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July 2 will be the first “National Wildland Firefighter Day”

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The newly established National Wildland Firefighter Day (July 2) recognizes the dedication of wildland firefighters, including federal, state, local, rural, contract, and support personnel. The selected date is especially meaningful as it occurs during the Week of Remembrance, which is held annually June 30 to July 6, and serves as an opportunity to renew our commitment …

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Drones in Fire Departments: The Step-by-Step Process to Create a Drone Program

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Given the size of the city of L.A., the potential bureaucratic hurdles required to actually launch something so new were significant. In this article, we’ll share the step-by-step process that was followed for the LAFD’s drone program approval to be expedited, so that the department could have UAVs at their disposal to help with the …

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Neb. Chief dies in crash en route to fire with ‘zero-visibility conditions’

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Elwood Volunteer Fire Department Chief Darren Krull, 54, died in a collision Thursday, according to a report from the Nebraska State Patrol. Two vehicles responding to a fire southeast of Elwood were involved in the crash at about 5:10 p.m. A truck hauling water struck the other vehicle head-on, which was a Ford Expedition driven …

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NIST Report: WUI Community Fire Hazard Mitigation Methodology

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The imminent threat of deadly wildfires near urban areas, like the Marshall Fire in Colorado, demands that homes be built to survive. The intensity of these firestorms, particularly in densely populated areas, is too great to rely on first responders alone, according to a landmark federal report. National Institute of Standards and Technology experts are …

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Growing body of research points to reproductive health problems for female firefighters

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When Sophia Huston started working as a hotshot — a specialized wildland firefighter with advanced technical training — she was 19 and didn’t know what she was getting herself into. Shortly after the training began, Huston got what would be her last menstrual cycle of the fire season. She’s been working in fire for six …

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New 10-Year Strategy from the U.S. Forest Service to Tackle Wildfire Hazardous Fuel Issue

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Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, along with Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Moore, announced the federal government’s intention to treat 50 million acres over the next ten years and have a plan in place for maintaining that work going forward. Years of research from the USFS and others have mapped …

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NFPA 2021 Needs Assessment of US Fire Service

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This report shows that while some fire service needs have been declining, many have remained constant or increased. Fire service needs exist for departments of all sizes and in every area, including staffing, training and certification, facilities, apparatus, personal protective equipment (PPE); and health and wellness. In general, the smaller the community protected, the greater …

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