(DOVER, Del.) – The Delaware Forest Service is seeking new recruits for its wildfire training classes at the Delaware State Fire School (1461 Chestnut Grove Road, Dover, DE 19904).  No experience is needed. Candidates should be over 18, physically fit, and motivated to learn. Trainees should also be willing to travel for at least two weeks (usually during the summer) for out-of-state fire assignments.  Classes can help earn “red-card” certification from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group to serve on Delaware’s wildfire crew. This year, Delaware dispatched a crew that battled blazes in the Rocky Mountain region of western Colorado.

This year’s training will take place over two separate weekends: The first session will beon October 21 and 22 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day (lunch included). The second session will be on November 4 and 5 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day (lunch included). Each session costs $50. Applicants should register by October 16 by contacting the Delaware State Fire School at (302) 739-4773 or email: fire.school@delaware.gov.  Website: statefireschool.delaware.gov  Those with no prior experience can contact Kyle Hoyd, Delaware’s assistant state forester, at (302) 698-4548 or kyle.hoyd@delaware.gov to get more information.

Trainees will complete the following courses on two separate weekend sessions. In addition, students must complete ICS-100 (available online) before classes begin.

• Session 1:  S-190 (Intro to Wildland Fire Behavior) and S-130 (Firefighter Training) – October 21 and 22 (Saturday and Sunday) – 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day (lunch included)
• Session 2:  S-130 (Firefighter Training) – November 4 and 5 (Saturday and Sunday) – 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day (lunch included)

Both S-190 and S-130 are required for prospective firefighters to attain “red-card” certification from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), the lead agency for wildfire training in the United States. In addition to the basic coursework, candidates must also complete an arduous “work capacity” or “pack test,” which involves carrying a 45-pound pack over a three-mile course in less than 45 minutes.

The capstone of the Delaware Forest Service’s annual wildfire training is its annual “Fire Camp” at Redden State Forest in Georgetown, Sussex County. Held in April, the intensive one-day seminar includes hands-on training across a range of wildland firefighting tools and strategies, culminating in a “live-burn” exercise designed to simulate conditions on an actual fire assignment.

The need for qualified personnel is as important as ever: this summer, wildfires pushed the National Preparedness Level to its maximum of 5 on a 5-point scale.  Delaware has been mobilizing crews and individual resources to serve on out-of-state assignment since the late-1990s. Delaware firefighters have traveled to fires in many states: Alaska, California, Georgia, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.  The First State has also sent personnel to aid in national or regional emergencies, such as hurricane relief efforts in Florida in 2004 and New York in 2011.  Trained and dispatched by the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, wildfire crews are comprised of men and women of varying ages and backgrounds who represent a mix of public agencies, nonprofit groups, volunteer fire companies, and private citizens—all with an interest in firefighting and a desire to help their communities.

Despite its small size, Delaware has earned an outstanding reputation on the national firefighting scene and was honored by Governor Carney at the Delaware State Fair in July.

Delaware Wildfire Crew – In the News: (2017)

July 12 – The News Journal – Delaware volunteers help contain Western wildfires

July 12 – Cape Gazette – Delaware crew battles 300-acre blaze in Colorado

July 27  – Delaware Public Media  – 90 years of Delaware Forest Service celebrated with return of wildfire crew

HARRINGTON (July 27) – Governor John C. Carney, Jr. and Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Delaware Forest Service and honored the wildfire crew that just returned from two weeks battling blazes in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. The crew, which left the First State on July 8 and returned on July 23, first tackled the 700-acre Wilson Fire near Meeker, Colorado – started by lightning on July 7. The firefighters then moved on to the Grizzly Fire before finishing up on the Dragon Fire – located just south of Rangely, Colorado. Delaware’s team included 17 state and federal firefighters from Delaware and three from West Virginia.

“The Forest Service has done unbelievable work over 90 years,” Governor Carney told the audience. “As we celebrate 98 years of the Delaware State Fair, we’ve got a lot of other milestones that are happening, including the recognition of Delaware’s state forestry service for 90 years of operation and their tremendous work.”

Photos from the event are available on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/delforestservice or on Flickr at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/101649897@N02/

During the ceremony at the Delaware State Fair, state forester Michael A. Valenti presented a timeline of major accomplishments and highlights in the 90 years since the Delaware General Assembly established the state’s forestry department on April 25, 1927.

1927: Senate Bill 16 in the General Assembly establishes the State Forestry Department with the agency charged with fire control, state tree nursery, and demonstration areas. William S. Taber was appointed the first State Forester and served for 43 years until 1970.
1930: 173 fires burned nearly 30,000 acres. Six fire towers were erected beginning in 1931 and a system of fire wardens was established.
1936: The Gun Club property (844 acres) was purchased for $7,000 ($8.30/acre). Consisting of the historic Redden Lodge, it became the core area for Redden State Forest, now Delaware’s largest.
1939: American holly is named the state tree, due to its commercial importance and Delaware’s status as the “Holly Capital of the Nation.”
1941: The 672-acre Tybout Tract was purchased in southern New Castle County. It became the cornerstone of Blackbird State Forest, now more than 6,000 acres.
1959: The first Delaware Tree Farm was recognized (O.A. Newton and Son)
1970: DNREC takes over management of State Forests and fire control while DDA manages state nursery and landowner assistance
1974: House Bill 770 transfers all forestry functions over to the DDA
1994: State forestlands in southwestern Kent County recognized as Taber State Forest
1999: State Forests total about 10,000 acres
2017: The Delaware Forest Service has 23 staff members including six field foresters and two urban and community foresters. Delaware’s state forests now total just over 20,000 acres (thanks to funding from Delaware Open Space/U.S. Forest Legacy Program)

###

A Delaware Forest Service wildfire crew is now battling the 300-acre Wilson Fire, 9 miles north of Meeker, Colorado in Rio Blanco County. Started by lightning on July 7, the blaze is 15 percent contained and threatening oil and gas production equipment. The firefighting effort is under the direction of a Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT) with a total of 146 personnel assigned. Several crews are digging an indirect line in preparation for a planned back burn. County officials are expecting thunderstorm activity with possible dry lightning over the next 48 hours and will be watching all areas for any strikes that might lead to a new fire start.

Updates on Wilson Fire: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5338/

Delaware’s team is comprised of 17 firefighters from Delaware and three from West Virginia. The crew flew from Harrisburg, PA on Sunday to the Rocky Mountain region along with teams from Maryland, New Hampshire, and two crews from Pennsylvania.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Friday released the following statement commending Delaware Forest Service’s wildfire crew prior to the mobilization of the 20-person team that will battle wildfires in the Rocky Mountain region.

“Delaware’s wildfire crew is a group of well-trained volunteers and public servants who will leave the safety and comfort of their homes to travel across the country in an effort to help Western states battle wildfires. I’m confident that the crew will provide much needed assistance to our friends out West, and I am proud of the volunteers and agency personnel who make up the Forest Service’s wildfire crew. Thank you to the crew for your service, and I wish everyone a safe return home.”

The Forest Service’s wildfire crew will depart Saturday on a bus to Harrisburg, and join four teams from the East prior to flying to Colorado on Sunday to begin their 14-day assignment. Volunteers and public agency personnel make up Delaware’s wildfire crew who train in wildland firefighting and are certified by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.

After two weeks of battling wildfires in the rugged terrain of Idaho,  a Delaware wildfire crew is returning to Blackbird State Forest (502 Blackbird Forest Road, Smyrna, 19977) on September 11 at approximately 8 a.m.

The team was dispatched by the Delaware Forest Service on August 25 at a time when the National Fire Preparedness Level was 4 on a 5-point scale. Over the past 14 days, the team first tackled the 52,972-acre Henry’s Creek Fire, located seven miles east of Idaho Falls.  Thanks to the efforts of Delaware’s crew and other firefighters, the Henry’s Creek Fire reached 100% containment on September 1, 2016. From there, the crew battled the 1260-acre Grape Creek Fire, located six miles southwest of Elba, Idaho. The lightning-caused blaze started on September 1 and was situated in the steep 8500-foot terrain of the Sawtooth National Forest. When the weather permitted, the crew took a helicopter up to the fireline each day.

This is the second crew that Delaware has sent out this summer. The Delaware Forest Service dispatched firefighters to Colorado on July 25. They battled the 492-acre Milk Fire near Craig, Colorado and the 1,287-acre Tokewanna Fire near Mountain View, Wyoming. They finished up on the 12,276-acre Whit Fire, east of Yellowstone National Park near Cody, Wyoming.

Contact: Kyle Hoyd, Delaware Forest Service, (302) 698-4548 (office), (302) 943-7869 (cell) or kyle.hoyd@delaware.gov.