Environment DEC
From the September 2003 issue
NYS Sends Firefighters to Assist with Montana Wildfires
In early August, New York State sent a team of specially trained firefighters to Montana to help combat numerous wildfires that had started from dry timber and lightning strikes in western Montana. After the first team returned, a second team was requested and flew to Montana on August 23.
Answering the Call
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Forest Service, through an interagency cooperative agreement with the Forest Rangers, had requested 20-person crews to combat the raging wildfires in Montana. Firefighting teams consisted of Forest Rangers from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and civilian firefighters. Before being deployed to the fire sites, New York State's crews joined crews from other states at a staging area in Missoula, Montana.
Trained, Tested and Experienced
Crews from New York State, known as "Initial Attack Crews," are trained and experienced in aggressively fighting an advancing fire front. All crew members have completed training in wildfire behavior and firefighting tactics that emphasize fireline safety to reduce the risk of injury.
Crew members have a minimum of 44 hours of specialized training, and supervisors have hundreds of hours of training and experience in fighting aggressive wildfires. In addition, each individual undergoes physical fitness testing to determine whether they are able to withstand the rigors of firefighting in mountainous terrain.
