• Article Photo. Maple 1's Josh Duffey and Kate Yamahiro work on wildfire safety training modules.
    Maple 1's Josh Duffey and Kate Yamahiro work on wildfire safety training modules.

 

Ever wonder what training looks like when preparing to fight wildfires? AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) team Maple 1 is working with US Fish and Wildlife in Chelsea, Iowa to do just that, and they’re here to tell you. 

The day starts with Physical Training (PT) at 5:30 AM. This can be anything from weightlifting to a friendly game of dodge ball.  A quick breakfast follows, and then it’s off to computer training from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. On the computers, Maple 1 learns things like how to identify types of wildfires and the types of weather that contribute to them, how to set up and properly run equipment like pumps and hoses and how to set up a fire shelter in the rare circumstance of being trapped in a fire. Then it’s off to dinner and bed to prepare for the next day. Repeat 3 times. 

Day 4 brings something new and exciting…field training! The day begins again with PT, after which Maple 1 changes into their Nomex fire gear and departs for Chelsea, Iowa at 7:30 AM. Here they spend the day going over safety tips and putting the techniques they learned into practice. This includes conducting a “practice burn” in the field and extinguishing it properly. At 5:00 PM, they head back home to Vinton, filled with the knowledge of how to safely and effectively fight fires.

This training will be extremely important in the weeks to come, when Maple 1 will spend long hours facilitating prescribed burns both in Chelsea, Iowa and Necedah, Wis. The prescribed burns will assist with restoration of prairies and necessary hardwood trees such as oaks, which will benefit the wildlife in the area and reduce the risk of fires caused by lightning or people.