2003

Intermountain Region
Academy Graduates Wildland Engine Trainees

SOCORRO, NEW MEXICO
Instructors from the New Mexico State Forestry Division, the New Mexico Firefighters Training Academy and the Intermountain Region of the National Park Service recently sent NPS employees home with certificates as Engine Operators and Engine Boss fulfilling a training need within the Region.

“The first week of instruction focused on Engine Operator tasks” said Michael Kessler, an instructor and Prescribed Fire Specialist at El Malpais National Monument in New Mexico. “The course covered Pumps and Water, Driving Course, Engine maintenance and operation in addition to Wildland and Urban Tactics” said Kessler.

After five days of classroom and field work, the NPS students spent the weekend honing skills. The students did Readiness Reviews, Standard drills with urban and wildland tactics including negotiation of a Dog Leg driving course with new equipment and engines before moving into Engine Boss training during the second week.

“This interagency academy has added additional qualified and ready personnel to respond to wildland and prescribed fires” said Dave Langley, Fire Management Officer at El Malpais National Monument who coordinated the preparedness drills on the weekend.

NPS graduates were Brett Pargman, Jessica Sherwood, Jeff Herriford and Linden Schlenker from Grand Teton National Park; Joe Roberts and Gary Luce from Big Bend National Park and Brace Murphy, Pete Graves and Ed Cummins from Chiricahua National Monument. Also, Halbert Martin and Delbert Henio from El Malpais National Monument; Mike Zadra and Brian Lumley from Dinosaur National Monument; Karen Carswell from Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument; Mark Richardson and Dave Allen from Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Michael Wagner and Morris Bray from Yellowstone National Park.