Two consecutive record-setting years for wildfires in Washington caught the attention of state lawmakers.
The budget passed this past spring generated funding for new equipment and hiring and training of new firefighters.
Three fire academies across the state are bringing together local, state and federal agencies to train nearly 1,000 new firefighters for the summer wildfire season.
The state turned Rainier High School near Olympia into a mock-fire camp, complete with a mess tent for meals and tents for cadets to sleep in during the 11-day academy.
New hires will spend time in the classroom learning about fire behavior and investigation and will learn how to operate trucks and hoses on simulated fires.
In addition to the Rainier academy, the state is training firefighters in Yakima and Deer Park near Spokane.
“We just want to be prepared, ready and have the right resources,” said Jeff Happe, one of the instructors with the Department of Natural Resources.