Thursday, April 3, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
2008 Mid-Atlantic Wildfire Academy Opens Registration
The website for this year's Mid-Atlantic Wildfire Academy is up and running. The Academy will be held in Morgantown, WV from June 7-13, 2008. Go to http://www.mawfta.com to see the course schedule and register to attend!
This academy is designed for wildland firefighters who are working their way up through the training requirements. Several courses will be offered from the basics to advanced. Courses will be taught by instructors from state fire agencies in the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as fire managers from our partner federal agencies.
It will be a great week, so check out the website and join us!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Beginning A New Year
Saturday, October 20, 2007
GOVERNOR BANS OUTDOOR BURNING
State agencies prepared to assist communities low on water
CHARLESTON -- To reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires due to drought, Gov. Joe Manchin has issued a proclamation that bans all outdoor burning throughout West Virginia beginning Oct. 18.
The ban, which is necessary because of drought conditions and reduced water supply levels in some communities, will be in effect until conditions improve and the governor rescinds the order.
“Drought conditions throughout the state have lowered and, in some cases, depleted water resources in many of our communities, which is a real concern if we need to fight a forest fire,” Manchin said. “Until we get enough rain to improve the situation, we must take action to help prevent accidental fires and ban all open burning until the state’s water resources are replenished.”
Beginning Oct. 18, it is unlawful for any person in the state to engage in outdoor burning, including fires built for the burning of debris, and for camping or warming. The following items are excluded from the restrictions:
• Fires for the purpose of chemical production, where fire is essential to operation.
• Fires for commercial land-clearing, such as mining, highway construction, and development. A pit-burner is required for these fires. A permit shall be obtained from the Division of Forestry prior to burning.
• Training fires conducted under the direct control and supervision of qualified instructors at a training facility operated by a fire department or government entity. A permit shall be obtained from the Division of Forestry prior to burning.
• Fires for commercial outdoor cooking, and cooking for fairs and festivals. A water source capable of extinguishing the fire must be present.
• Liquid-fueled gas fire stoves, grills, or lanterns.
Manchin instructed the Division of Forestry to enact a forest fire readiness plan and to enforce the ban on burning as outlined in Chapter 20 of the West Virginia Code. The governor also called upon the Division of Natural Resources, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and the State Police to cooperate in the strict enforcement of this ban.
Jimmy Gianato, director of the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said his agency is working to assist where water supplies are dwindling.
WVDHSEM also has been working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to obtain permit requests that would allow temporary dikes or dams to be built on navigable waterways in the state, he said. Some communities have instituted water conservation plans on their own.
"We are working with the appropriate agencies to help local communities that are having water shortage issues,” Gianato said. “Local emergency management officials are keeping us updated on their situations so we can be prepared.”
Forestry Director Randy Dye said 99 percent of forest fires in West Virginia are caused by humans, and 26 percent of those fires are caused by debris burning. “If everyone cooperates with the ban on outdoor burning, we should be able to dramatically lower the risk for a forest fire.”
Burning permits for fires excluded from the restrictions may be obtained from the Division of Forestry’s regional offices in Beckley, Fairmont, Milton, Parkersburg and Romney. Dye said this burning ban is not a woods closure and will not affect scheduled hunting seasons.
“I remind hunters that all open campfires are totally prohibited, and ask them to be on the lookout for and to report anyone who may be violating this ban,” Dye said.
Although campfires are prohibited under the ban, liquid-fueled stoves, grills and lanterns are allowed.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
WVDOF Fire School
Our Region will be assisting with the WVDOF's Wildland Fire School, to be held September 17th - 21st, at Jacksons Mill 4-H Camp, near Weston. There are some slots open for VFD members who wish to attend, and you can contact Ben Webster at our Charleston Office, (304)558-2788 for more information.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Mid-Atlantic Wildfire Academy Announced!
The website for the first Mid-Atlantic Wildfire Training Academy has been released. The academy will be held at the West Virginia University Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, from June 9 to 15, 2007. Check out the website at http://www.mawfta.com for details and to register!
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Upcoming WCT sessions for Firefighters
Here's the schedule for two upcoming Work Capacity Tests (Pack Tests) and Annual Refresher classes. These are annual requirements for individuals wanting to qualify as national wildland firefighters. The pre-requisite is that you must have completed the basic training for FFT2 classification - this includes I-100, S-190, and S-130 courses.
LOCATION: BUCKHANNON, WV
DATE/TIME: SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2007 0900 - 1600
CONTACT TO REGISTER OR MORE INFORMATION: (304) 256-6775, rangerb@mail.wvnet.edu
LOCATION: MORGANTOWN, WV
DATE/TIME: FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2007 0900 - 1600
CONTACT TO REGISTER OR MORE INFORMATION: (304) 367-2793, r1fire@ma.rr.com
All participants are strongly urged to bring their own 45-pound pack. All packs will be weighed using WVDOF scales. If you do not have a pack available, you will be given a backpack pump filled with 5 gallons of water to use for the test. The test consists of walking 3 miles in 45 minutes or less with 45 pounds.
Fire shelter drills will immediately follow for those individuals successfully completing the Pack Test. After lunch, will reconvene for safety refresher training and mobilization discussion.
