NPS Northeast Region and Virginia Department of Forestry Preparedness Grant Supports Southwest Virginia Wildland Fire Academy
National Fire Plan – Firefighting *
The 2008 Southwest Virginia Wildland Fire Academy was held September 11 -14 at the 4-H Center in Abingdon, Virginia. This was the second fire academy coordinated and hosted by the Virginia Department of Forestry this year. Courses included Firefighter Training, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, Introduction to Incident Command System (S-130/190/I-100); Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operation (S-212), and Single Resource Boss (S-230). All of the courses offered were filled to capacity. For most of the participants, classroom learning was supplemented with hands-on experience at the Channels State Forest. There students practiced fireline construction and chainsaw operations.
Firefighters came from all over Virginia to participate, and one traveled all the way from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Students and instructors were from the Virginia Department of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, and many local fire departments. Lodging was at the 4-H Center, whose staff also provided three meals a day for students and instructors. Funding for the successful academy came from the National Fire Plan’s Ready Reserve Program. The National Park Service Northeast Region provided funds to the Virginia Department of Forestry through a cooperative agreement.
Contact: Adam Cumpston, Russell County Forester, Virginia Department of Forestry Phone: (276) 889-0927
