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Delaware Forest Service recruiting wildfire trainees

Courtesy of the Delaware Forest Service.

The Delaware Forest Service says it is in need of more firefighters for the upcoming year.

 

A crew of three firefighters from the Delaware Forest Service drove to Oregon in September to help extinguish wildfires.

 

Kyle Hoyd, the assistant forestry administrator, says the fires out there were probably the largest he had ever seen on assignment

 

“Pretty much everything out West at that time was taking off and it was blowing up due to the drought conditions, the dry thunderstorms that were coming through with the winds pushing them, and really the topography. So we had our work cut out for us when we were out there,” Hoyd said.

 

As climate change has led to bigger wildfires and longer wildfire seasons in recent years, Hoyd says the forest service needs more firefighters.

 

“The only problem we currently have is really finding the people to sit in the seats, take the training and then have the ability after the training to take 16 days out of their lives and go with us to help fight a fire,” Hoyd said.

 

The state’s forest service currently has over 250 fully trained firefighters. A 20-person wildfire crew went out to the Rocky Mountains in July.

 

Hoyd says he needs a minimum of 40 to be prepared for next year’s fires out West. This year, 52 were available. 

 

The Forest Service is currently recruiting, and holding a training session at the end of October through November.

Training:

The training will be done over two weekends. The first is 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 21 through Oct. 22. The second is 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 4 through Nov. 5. The cost is $50 per session. 

Contact the Delaware Fire School at 302-739-4773 or email fire.school@state.de.us to register. Interested applicants should register by Oct. 16.

 

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