Wildland firefighters train in Kemmerer

Teton Interagency fire managers anticipate a busy fire season ahead, and wildland firefighters from across the area are receiving important preseason training this week in Kemmerer. The class is being held from today through Friday at the Kemmerer Events Center, and the field portion will be held at Nugent Park located on the Kemmerer Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

This event is a cooperative effort between Teton Interagency fire managers. The basic fire school, or Guard School, is an intense 60-hour course, which exposes wildland firefighter trainees to all aspects of wildland fire operations. Students in the wildland firefighting class focus on three main areas: fire behavior, safety, and operational tactics. The school emphasizes practical applications for use during wildfire response situations, including responding on mountain roads, fire weather, behavior, communications, and exercises to test their skills during simulated incidents.