MEDIA ADVISORY:
Contact: Henry Poole, Assistant Forestry Administrator
Delaware Forest Service
Email: henry.poole@delaware.gov
(302) 943-3593 (cell)
(302) 698-4548 (office)

WHAT: Fire Camp: annual intensive one-day training session to prepare volunteers to battle wildfires

WHEN: Saturday, April 20, 2010 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WHERE: Blackbird State Forest, 502 Blackbird Forest Rd., Smyrna, DE 19947, (302) 653-6505

WHY:

• The intensive one-day course serves as a necessary prerequisite for firefighters to achieve yearly “red-card” certification from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) to serve on out-of-state fire assignments
• Delaware’s crew is a highly-regarded unit that has battled blazes in many states, including last summer’s well-publicized forest fires in Colorado and Idaho. The one-day seminar provides prospective crew members with key instruction in many areas: wildfire suppression techniques, fire behavior, fire weather, mobilization, pump and power saw usage, as well as “live” simulated fire situations.
• Participants must also complete an arduous work capacity test—hauling a 45-pound pack over a three-mile course in less than 45 minutes.