Public Media for Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

YK Delta Firefighters Attending Fire Leadership Training

Mike Simon, of Hooper Bay, works on a computer during a class titled S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior on Wednesday, May 10th, 2017. The class is part of the Alaska Crew Boss Academy at the Alaska Fire Service on Fort Wainwright, in Fairbanks.
Tim Mowry
/
Alaska Division of Forestry

State and Federal fire agencies have teamed up to sponsor leadership training for firefighters from the YK Delta this month. The training is the Alaska Interagency Crew Boss Academy and is held once every two years. During a two-week intensive session, firefighters hone skills in leadership, radio, weather, risk assessment, safety, structure protection and using GPS and maps.

State Division of Forestry spokesman, Tim Mowry, said both agencies stand to benefit from having more people on hand who are qualified to be Crew Bosses, especially with the level of turnover among fire crews. He says it’s important for agencies to ensure there is more than one trained Crew Boss on staff per village.

 

Students in the Alaska Crew Boss Academy work on computers during a class titled S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior on Wednesday at the Alaska Fire Service on Fort Wainwright, in Fairbanks. May 10th, 2017.
Credit Tim Mowry / Alaska Division of Forestry
/
Alaska Division of Forestry
Students in the Alaska Crew Boss Academy work on computers during a class titled S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior on Wednesday at the Alaska Fire Service on Fort Wainwright, in Fairbanks. May 10, 2017.

“You can’t have a crew without a Crew Boss,” said Mowry. Both agencies try to ensure they have plenty of qualified crew bosses to fill out their crews, typically running between 15 to 20 members.

 

With the Crew Boss Academy training, firefighters will be qualified to work in both Alaska and the lower 48 and will qualify for higher pay.

“It’s really sort of like any other profession,” said Mowry. “This is really professional development.  These are people that are motivated enough and want to move up in the firefighting world.”

 

Firefighters from Hooper Bay, Holy Cross, Chevak, and Scammon Bay are attending the training academy now through May 22.