2022 Pennsylvania Wildland Fire Academy

Hello everyone!

Fire season wrapped up rather quietly here in Pennsylvania, and as usual, we launched into the Pennsylvania Wildland Fire Academy. This year it was held at Shippensburg University from May 31 – to June 5, 2022.

This year was, we believe, a resounding success! We had a total attendance of 297 individuals, and over the 6 days of training, we issued 268 certificates.

We did something new this year at the academy. Wednesday night after classes we hosted a double-elimination Cornhole Tournament to benefit the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. Despite this being a very last-minute idea, we were able to raise and donate $1152 in memory of Dan LeCrone. Our tournament winners were the Bald Eagle Baggers, Dale Ronk, and Luke Waltman, who were awarded 3550 Fire Weather Meters donated by Kestrel. Honorable mention must go to the 4-Baggers, John Portzline and Ben Livelsberger, they only lost two games – both of which were to the Bald Eagle Baggers. Refreshments were provided by the Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group, Keystone Wood Products Association, and the Northern Tier Hardwood Association. A very special thanks go to Mike Becker and Ben Livelsberger for doing the leg work to make that happen!

Tournament in action

Tournament winners

Now we would like to take a moment to spread out some thanks to those who helped make the 2022 Pennsylvania Wildland Fire Academy the success it was. Our chief of Wildfire Operations and Planning, Matt Reed, said it best, so we aren’t going to change a thing:

• Instructors and IMT members - your expertise and willingness to teach are without a doubt the reason we can host an academy. Without you, these trainings could not be held. 
• Supervisors - your understanding of the importance of these trainings, and your consent to allow your personnel to teach and attend classes is much appreciated. Again, we could not hold these classes without the instructors and, of course, without the students.
• Students - your desire to learn and increase your knowledge is the primary reason we hold these trainings. You are the future of the wildland program in PA and throughout the nation.

“To wrap things up, I'd just like to reiterate my thanks. Solid training is paramount to building and maintaining a successful fire program, and I like to think we have some of the best folks in the country coming out of PA. That's all because of you.”