Go west, firefighters, and help your country. The Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture did not quite say that, but it’s what they meant. They directed their managers to do all they could to make firefighting resources available when, on July 19, national fire leaders moved the country to its highest preparedness level. In addition to fire management staff members, people with fire qualifications from other disciplines were urged to offer up their talents.
National Park Service employees responded. From Maine to Virginia, from the Appalachians to the coast, people from the parks of the National Capital and Northeast Regions packed up and headed west. Back at their parks, bosses and co-workers stepped in to fill the gaps as best they could.
Firefighters, managers and support staff from around the northeast contributed over 2,000 workdays to safely contain and control western fires. Novices and the experienced took one or more assignments. They worked in operations, planning, logistics, and finance and on command and general staffs. Some found the work grueling; others, invigorating. All came back with stories, some of them true. And, there was pride in answering the Secretary’s call.
Contact: Barb Stewart, Northeast and National Capital Regions, Fire Communication and Education Specialist
Phone: (434) 220-9065
*This story supports the National Fire Plan |
