The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reported Tuesday Pennsylvania has mobilized eight 20-person crews so far this year to fight wildfires in California, Montana and other states, marking it as one of the busiest in the history of the Wildland Fire Crew Program.
Since the mutual support program began in 1973, there have been nine years in which that number was exceeded, topping out at 11 crews in1994 and 2000.
In addition, DCNR had two fire engines on assignment to eastern Montana from late July through early September. Each engine crew is staffed by four persons, and three crews cycled through each engine during that time.
There were also 56 highly-trained and specially-skilled personnel that were ordered as “single resources” to fill logistical, operational, and command positions. This is one of the highest numbers of single resources ever sent out of Pennsylvania in a single year.
Between crews, engines and single resources, Pennsylvania has deployed 241 personnel to assist other states, one of the highest on record, and the year is not over.
Many years, like last year, the southern United States has an active fall fire season, and DCNR will send resources to assist our southern neighbors as needed.
The total number of personnel continues to rise as DCNR and PEMA send incident management teams (IMTs) to various locations supporting hurricane relief efforts. DCNR has been working with PEMA to send IMTs to New Jersey, Florida, and now South Carolina, bumping that number up to 259.
For more information on wildfires in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s Wildfire webpage.
For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog, Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.
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