VIDEO: More than 400 students from across the Midwest are suiting up this week for the annual Wildfire Academy in Grand Rapids, Minnesota โ one of the largest wildland fire training events in the state. While the training may be part of an academy, students are being pushed through real-world scenarios, donning full protective gear and learning how to handle the kind of conditions theyโll face in the field.
The week-long program immerses participants in hands-on instruction, such as setting up pumps, constructing fire lines, operating machinery, and understanding fire behavior. Chainsaws echoed across the grounds as future wildland firefighters got to work under the watchful eyes of seasoned instructors.
โThe fire activity overall and the intensity the fires are burning at was different than what my coworkers have seen in prior fires,โ said Meghan Ring, Assistant Lead Instructor. As wildfires grow more intense and complex, the demand for skilled personnel continues to rise.
โNationally, weโre looking at a deficit in the number of wildland firefighters that are able to do different types of jobs,โ said Karen Harrison, public information officer for the Minnesota Incident Command System Wildfire Academy Team. โThatโs why itโs so important to have trainings like the Wildfire Academy.โ
