5th DCNR Wildfire Crew Leaves For Colorado; PA Sends Equipment, More People West

On September 1, the fifth 20-person wildfire crew DCNR’s Bureau of Forest will deploy this year to help fight wildland fires headed to Colorado..

Pennsylvania wildfire personnel are or have served in Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Texas and Wyoming.

DCNR has also deployed two of its wildfire fighting engines along with its four person team as well as other individuals on specific assignments for a total of 133 personnel.

The fourth DCNR crew is still deployed at the Woodward Fire on the California Coast just north of San Francisco.

On August 15, DCNR reported its first two 20-person wildfire crews sent to Wyoming and California to fight wildfires returned to Pennsylvania completing their deployment with no major injuries and no COVID-19.

The third 20-person wildfire crew sent to Wyoming returned on August 20.

The first crew deployed to Wyoming on July 16, the second crew to California on July 25, the third to Wyoming on August 2 and the fourth crew on August 19.

Last year DCNR was called to send two 20-person crews, two wildfire fighting vehicles, 20 individuals as single resources for a total of 74 personnel.

When states and agencies need assistance, Pennsylvania wildland firefighters may be called upon, by virtue of mutual assistance agreements, to assist.

Pennsylvania firefighters are trained and qualified under national wildland standards to function either as a member of an organized incident management team or as a member of a wildland crew.

Firefighters are required to carry their own tent and sleeping bag to fire camp. In order to be assigned to the fire, firefighters must be equipped with flame resistant clothing (such as Nomex), leather lug-soled boots, hardhat, leather gloves, eye protection and a fire shelter before being allowed to work on the fire-line.

Click Here for more on the crews.

For more on wildfires in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s Wildfire webpage.

NewsClips:

AP: Wildfire Coverage In U.S., Around The World

Related Articles This Week:

-- With Record-Setting Use Of Outdoors, DCNR Offers Tips For Recreating Responsibly For Labor Day Weekend

-- DCNR, Officials Celebrate Ghost Town Trail In Cambria, Indiana Counties As PA’s 2020 Trail Of The Year

-- Good Natured Pennsylvanians: Trevor Nordquist Visited Every State Park

-- DCNR Good Natured Blog: On The Trail Of Geology

-- September Eastern & Western Trail Summits Go Virtual

-- Sept. 2 Resource Newsletter Now Available From DCNR

-- Sept. 4 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation

-- 2020 Public Lands Ride September 1-30 To Showcase State Parks, Forests

-- PECO/Natural Lands Green Region Open Space Grant Program Now Accepting Applications

-- Heritage Conservancy Facilitates Preservation Of Highly Visible, 97-Acre Farm In Bedminster Twp., Bucks County

-- Planning Process For Riverfront At Hazelwood Green Brownfield Site Begins In Allegheny County, Led By PA Environmental Council

-- Natural Lands Invites Participants To A Virtual ChesLen Chase For Open Space Race Oct. 10-18

-- Free Fallingwater Lecture: Environment Creating Healthy Wellbeing, Wellbeing Creating Healthy Environments Sept. 29 Online Event

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy Virtual Conservation Conversation About How To Protect Your Land On Oct. 15

[Posted: August 31, 2020]


9/7/2020

Go To Preceding Article     Go To Next Article

Return to This PA Environment Digest's Main Page