VIDEO: Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane said he did not set out to be a firefighter. โWhen I became Secretary of State, someone pitched me the idea at IDL to go through fire training with all the recruits,โ McGrane said. โIโm now into my third red card. I just passed all my refresher coursework and my PAC test and everything.โ In addition to overseeing our stateโs elections, McGrane also serves on the land board and explains that his training as a firefighter has helped him in that role.
โInitial attack is one of the things that the Idaho Department of Lands does well,โ McGrane said. โWe need to do more of that because when you start having these 1,000-acre to 10,000-acre, or worse, 100,000-acre fires, it can cause so much devastation. When we look at states like California, you can see how destructive it can be for communities.โ As he has gone out on fires, McGrane has also been able to talk to those on the frontlines about what they need.
โTwo fire seasons ago, I actually went up to a fire up above Sweet and Ola. I had dinner with the fire crews, and I got to go around and ask for feedback. These are guys and gals covered in soot camping out in the woods. Theyโve been working on fire all day, and so to be able to have that conversation about the resources they need.โ He said it brings a new appreciation for everything fire crews do to keep our communities safe. โI think people donโt appreciate just the hard work it is to fight fires, not just the heat and the intensity youโre doing it in the time of year but also the sacrifices our fire crews make.โ
