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
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.”
