Did you see wildland firefighters in Sweet Home at the end of June?

Sweet Home is home to the Mid-Willamette Valley Interagency Wildland Fire School– a yearly school held the last week of June that brings over 200 firefighters and fire professionals to Sweet Home High School. The attendees and professionals come from local, state, and federal agencies, and range from first-time firefighters to seasoned veterans. The trainees split their time between classroom instruction and field training on private timberland, generously provided by Cascade Timber Consulting.

During their training, participants learn about fire behavior, leadership, safety, teamwork, suppression tactics, and much more. They spend the week sleeping in tents on the baseball fields at Sweet Home High School, and eat their meals together– mirroring the conditions they will face during the firefighting season.

On Wednesday, we joined the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to observe the firefighters in action. They practiced using emergency fire shelters, how to properly use portable generators and water transporters, how to efficiently lay down and roll up hoses, how to create a fire line, and important crew skills. Under guidance of professionals from ODF, the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, trainees honed their skills and learned to work as cohesive units.

It’s hard to replicate the conditions that these firefighters will face in the field, but instructors do their best. When the students practice using their emergency fire shelters, instructors use leaf blowers to simulate strong winds often produced by fires.

The week of training culminated in a live fire demonstration on June 28th in a working forest on Wiley Creek. Brush piles created by Cascade Timber Consulting through forest management activities were set ablaze. The trainees then put their skills to the test by working in teams to control, suppress and mop up the fire, dig fire lines, and work on steep, uneven terrain in thick smoke. These conditions allow for a controlled version of what firefighters will experience in the field.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the school, made possible by the dedication of fire practitioners in the ODF’s Southern Cascades District. The school has adapted to changes in firefighting techniques over the years, providing an adaptive framework for attendees. While there was an air of excitement and camaraderie at the school, safety remained the top priority– for both the trainees and the surrounding communities. 

The Mid-Willamette Valley Interagency Wildland Fire School lasts for one week, but preparation begins in January. The organizers stay in contact throughout the year, planning for wildfire season, fuel reduction efforts, and community wildfire resilience strategies. Their close connections often go unseen- but were evident during the 2023 Wiley Creek Fire response. You can read more about that here. 

The 2024 wildfire season officially began on July 1st. Recent hot weather has already propelled us into high fire danger, and sustained high temperatures in the coming weeks will likely keep us there. While the South Cascade region is in good hands with our diligent fire practitioners, it’s crucial for us all to take precautionary measures to keep our forests safe. This summer, whether you’re enjoying our beautiful watershed basin (or any watershed basin), or just cleaning your backyard, be sure to follow the fire restrictions set in place.