PENNSYLVANIA FOREST FIRE WARDENS ASSOCIATION

SPECIALIZED FOREST FIRE CREW INFORMATION

Each year Bureau of Forestry train wildland firefighters to battle wildfires outside of the Commonwealth. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, has been providing specialized crews and single resources for wildland firefighting across the country since 1973. Each year the Forestry District offers firefighters the oppertunity to take the arduous fittness test (aka Pack test). This is where a firefighter with a 45lb vest or backpack must walk 3 miles in 45 minutes. Each firefighter that is chosen for a wildfire assignment commits to a minimum of a 14 day assignment.

Each year crews from Pennsylvania travel to assist in wildfire suppresion and incident support from  the southern states to the west coast and even up to Alaska.

This year the Ardeous Fitness test will be given on two dates at French Creek State Park. The first date is Thursday March 25 from 10am to 1pm, the second date is Saturday March 27 from 9am to 1pm. Here is a link to an informational flyer about the fittness tests, click here

After a sucsesfull completion of the Arduous Fittness test each firefighter is required to attend an  Annual Crew refresher program District 17 will be

ARTICLE REPRINT FROM: www.firefighterclosecalls.com

MayDay at Wildland Operations 

It was March 18 2009 my self and a forestry crew of 6 were on a forest fire in Jonson County KY, the fire started out small when we arrived so we saddled up and started the attack the dozer operator that was a retired forest ranger and a long friend of my family cut the dozer line to the top of the hill we were planning out the attack and he said guys something doesn't feel right im going to get off the hill you should come to myself and 2 others stated putting in our hand lines just as we were told the ranger and another crew member walked over the rock facing to start the other attack the wind started picking up and the fire was growing hotter and faster, when we got our line in I took the chainsaw and was cutting dead trees and scrubs out so the fire wouldn't jump our lines. When I looked back up all we could see is a wall of fire so we started to run as fast as we could I threw my chainsaw down the other guys had a blower and a drip torch in hand they threw their things down as well as we were deploying our fire shelters I was trying to maintain radio contact with our boss the ranger and got no reply I tried for 20 minutes or longer and got nothing when the wind died down he finally replied to my mayday he said that

  Six District 17 Forestry Crews receive funding from the Commonwealth. Many local Fire and EMS organizations throughout the Commonwealth receive this funding.  

Volunteer Fire Company, Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program
The Volunteer Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program (VFCVASGP) makes an annual grant program available for volunteer fire companies, ambulance services and rescue squads. Beginning in September of each year the program provides grant eligibility information and makes an on-line grant application available for all eligible applicants. Based on applicant and project criteria, staff reviews and approves or disapproves all applications, processes signed grant agreements and authorizes dispersal of grant funds. Final grant reports are reviewed for compliance with project description and program guidelines.The funds can be used to purchase equipment, training programs, station modifications or for debt relief.  Each Fire Company  or Rescue service is allowed to submit each year an application to recieve up to $15,000 in funding and each Ambulance Service is allowed up to $10,000.

For a complete statewide list of awards please visit the State Fire Commissioners office website: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/volunteer_fire_company_and_volunteer_ambulance_service_grant_program/9188

The Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Council seeks to advance the responsible use of prescribed fire in the Commonwealth. They are holding an annual meeting to discuss prescribed fire issues.