Over the decades, the Aerial Firefighting Community has embraced innovations that have led to significant increased efficiencies and platforms that perform better in the aerial fire environment. Most important of these have been innovations that have increased Fire Fighter Safety. Every year many of our firefighters are injured and some never come home. Aerial Firefighting, unfortunately, has provided no exceptions.
Having been in the Fire Service for decades in both the Federal Government and Private Industry, you know and understand the risks that come with this work. The Wildland Firefighter Foundation is often the only support system available when one or more of our firefighters are injured or worse, suffer a Line of Duty Death.
This mission matters to us all, and I want to emphasize how important it is that we come together in support. There is no other organization in the nation that is more timely in providing support to families and survivors. Our actions and responses make an enormous difference in peopleโs lives.
