Wildland firefighters gather in Chinook for advanced training

Twenty-five area firefighters gathered at the Chinook Fire Hall for an intermediate course in wildland fire behavior and management. Don Pyrah, Area Fire Program Manager for Montana's Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, said the course was part of a series of fire-related courses that would allow participants to be certified as an engine boss. He added, "Though it's aimed at wildland firefighters, we encourage municipal and county crews to also attend." The firefighters were from all along the Hi-Line, mostly east of Chinook.

The three-day course is classroom based. Titled "S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior" the course follows a nationally agreed to curriculum that is recognized by all fire agencies. Students learn to identify and describe the characteristics of fuels, weather and topography that influence wildland fire behavior. Pyrah explained, "The first two days are about fuel characteristics, topography and weather. The last day focuses on how those elements fit together and influence fire behavior. These students, ultimately, will be managing other firefighters and they're learning to manage others in a safe, effective and efficient way."

Pyrah said several state and federal agencies were involved to present the course. On Friday afternoon Brian Waranauskas, Senior Forecaster and Incident Meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Great Falls office, was taking the class through various weather conditions, explaining how they could affect fuels and fire behavior and testing their knowledge of 'reading the weather.' It was pretty impressive the knowledge required to understand wildland fire behavior and predict how the fire may change based on weather conditions.

On Saturday and Sunday, the classes were led by instructors from various Montana state fire agencies. Pyrah noted the Montana-based instructors were from all over the state. He said, "It's helpful for students in one region to hear experiences and viewpoints from instructors who see lots of different situations and scenarios."

The students also seem to benefit from visiting with each other and sharing experiences and knowledge. One student said, "Hearing that all these firefighters have similar challenges and issues helps me not to feel like the Lone Ranger. I learn from the instructors and the other firefighters. That's a good thing." And those students have to be highly motivated to spend three days in a classroom, on such a beautiful spring weekend.

The "Journal" salutes these firefighters for the time and the service they invest for their communities. Thank you, one and all.