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The Virginia Multi-Agency Coordinating Group (VMAC) received this year's Pulaski Award. VMAC is composed of fire managers in Virginia from the NPS Northeast and National Capital Regions, the USDA Forest Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Virginia Department of Forestry. The Pulaski Award is an annual, national award for a group's outstanding contributions to wildland firefighting and America's wildland firefighters.
A ceremony was held last month at the Virginia Interagency Coordination Center in Charlottesville, VA, Tim Murphy, Deputy Director for the Bureau of Land Management Office of Fire and Aviation presented the award. He emphasized VMAC's response to the extraordinary fire conditions throughout Virginia in the fall of 2001. Over 1,000 wildland fires burned between October 15 and December 1. People and equipment were effectively and efficiently mobilized to reduce the effects of wildland fires that burned over 11,000 acres in that time period alone. Coordinated, creative fire prevention activities reduced the number of unwanted fire starts and spread common fire safety and homeowner preparedness messages. Firefighter and public safety were truly enhanced because of the work of VMAC. The interagency program reflects a solid partnership, fostered by cooperation, communication and dedication to community service.
The award is presented on the recommendation of the fire directors located at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. The award's name, Pulaski, comes from the axe-hoe combination tool designed for wildland firefighting. It is named for Edward Pulaski who is credited with early designs of the tool. Pulaski was a forest ranger that led a crew through thick smoke, flames and heat to the safety of an abandoned mine during the terrible fires of 1910 in Montana and Idaho.
Doug Raeburn, Fire Management Officer at Shenandoah NP in the fall of 2001, and one of the founders of VMAC, accepted the award on behalf of VMAC. Paul Head, NER Fire Management Officer and supporter of VMAC attended. Other VMAC members in attendance were: Don Boucher, NCR; Bruce Bytnar, BLRI; Gary Kemp, USFWS; Greg Sanders, VA Interagency Coordination Center/USDA Forest Service and Jim Garner, VA Department of Forestry.
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