As the Pacific Palisades are ravaged by one of the worst wildfire occurrences in California history, Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Tech has teamed up with the Grand Junction Fire Department (GJFD). They aim to implement lessons for training the most adaptive, critical thinking firefighters.
One of the biggest challenges California has faced regarding fire suppression has been a critical lack of personnel. For this reason, GJFD was one of many out-of-state districts that sent extra assistance, though the trip took two days.
CMU Tech and the GJFD have established long-standing connections, from co-training at the Colorado Law Enforcement Training Center to having GJFD employees serve as instructors in the Fire Science program.
Fire Science Program Director Joe White worked with the Grand Junction Fire Department for 19 years and actively applies his experience into his lectures.
“When they leave here, I want to make sure they are very well rounded,” said White. “That means they’re EMTs [Emergency Medical Technicians]. They’re structure firefighters. They’re wildland. They’ve got hazmat. I want them to have that good base so that when they do show up at that fire station, that fire department can now train them to their next level.”
The California fires had extreme conditions, including hurricane-force 90 mile per hour [MPH}winds, which made it nearly impossible to attack the fires head-on.
Due to these extreme conditions, flames mercilessly drove into the heart of the community, and fires reduced local neighborhoods to ashes.
“Probably the biggest thing that creates extreme fire behavior or changes in fire behavior is the wind aspect, and Santa Ana’s were huge,” said Wildland Fire Management Program Director Loren Paulson. Paulson began as a firefighter type two and moved all the way to Agency Administrator.
When White and Paulson first started their work, fire seasons averaged around six months in length. Now there is a fire season 360 days a year.
“Who would expect California to be on fire in January? December, having the Marshall fire in Colorado?” asked White.
Changes in fire frequency are evident in agency staff positions as well. Agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Forest Service, Mesa County and the Sheriff’s Department have been converting a lot of six to nine month positions into twelve month positions.
Another measure has been adjusting mandatory days off to uphold firefighters’ ability to work for longer seasons.
This year, in an attempt to cut federal spending, the United States Government placed a hiring freeze on all seasonal positions within the Forest Service and National Parks, with the exception of law enforcement and fire related positions.
“The size and intensity of large wildfires have greatly increased across the West over the past 20 years, often with catastrophic results to communities and watersheds. In response, Congress has provided funding to implement locally-designed projects to reduce the intensity and negative effects of large wildfires,” said Grand Valley District Ranger Bill Edwards. “We are starting to work with our local communities now, so we are prepared to receive funding in two years. We are fortunate and grateful to have this unique opportunity, and community support will be necessary for this to be a successful effort.”
Across the country, builders have constructed more homes and neighborhoods in places that mix with wildland areas known as the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). The Palisades in California recently experienced the dangers of this firsthand.
The Fire Science program at CMU Tech offers a course geared specifically to teach students not only about wildland fires but also the challenges of the WUI.
Although this course bridges the wildland and structural programs, there are many principles shared between each other. The biggest goal White and Paulson share is safety.
“I look back at different situations in my career where I can’t believe I didn’t say anything. That’s a huge focus for me, just making sure the students understand that they have a voice and that there’s a way to speak up and ask questions,” said Paulson.
“It’s important to encourage them to get comfortable to where they understand enough about fire behavior, situations, and knowing that they are responsible for themselves and the other people, and to speak up if they are ever not comfortable. Never be afraid to speak up, no matter if it’s your first fire or your 100th fire.”
He enforces five communication responsibilities within his class, the fifth being “ask if you don’t know.” White shares Paulson’s responsibility.
“I think that’s where you’re seeing more leadership, and that’s why you’re not seeing people put in positions where it’s unsafe for them. That’s the big change we’re seeing, making sure all our classes know that you do have a voice,” said White.
White is optimistic about the future of firefighting in Colorado and in the United States overall.
“As we see more and more fires that are not just here in Colorado, knowing that our new firefighters are gonna be trained to a higher level so that we can deal with each of these situations with a quicker response,” said White.
CMU Tech prepares students for wherever they go after graduation.
“When they leave CMU Tech, they have the knowledge to be an asset of whatever fire department they’re going to, whether it’s the structure side or the wildland,” said White.
