HARRISBURG, PA — At a time when wildfire seasons are becoming more severe nationwide, more than 450 wildland firefighters from 11 states recently participated in a weeklong training hosted by Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Held at Shippensburg University in Cumberland County, the training focused on equipping firefighters with essential skills to combat wildfires both in Pennsylvania and across the United States.
Organized annually by DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry, the program provides intensive preparation, ensuring firefighters meet national qualification standards. This year, 384 certificates were issued to participants from nearly every Pennsylvania county as well as Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Key aspects of the training program emphasized safety protocols, interagency coordination, and adaptability to the dynamic challenges posed by wildfires.
“This training is critical for the people who respond to wildfires here in Pennsylvania and across the country,” said DCNR State Forester Seth Cassell. “We are proud of these public servants – many of whom are volunteers – and thank them for helping to keep our forests and communities safe.”
Pennsylvania has a longstanding tradition of contributing to wildfire response efforts nationwide. Last year, nearly 200 Pennsylvania firefighters were deployed to assist with out-of-state wildfire operations. Earlier this year, the Shapiro Administration dispatched 40 highly trained firefighters to support wildfire suppression near Los Angeles.
Since its establishment in 1973, Pennsylvania’s wildfire response program has sent crews to natural disasters across the country, including hurricane and wildfire incidents as far as Alaska and Hawaii. This ongoing commitment underscores the Commonwealth’s vital role in national disaster response efforts.
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