GRAND RAPIDS-The Minnesota Incident Command System partner agencies along with Northeast Higher Education District's Advanced Minnesota Fire Training, Itasca Community College and the University of Minnesota's North Central Research and Outreach Center are hosting the Minnesota Wildfire Academy training this week in Grand Rapids.
This is the 17th year of the Minnesota Wildfire Academy and the 12th year it has been in Grand Rapids. More than 700 students from nine states are expected to attend 34 courses, including firefighters from the Camp Ripley Fire Department and DNR officers in Brainerd, Backus, Little Falls and Aitkin. In order to provide more effective training several of the wildfire and incident management courses are conducted with a combination of classroom and field experiences. For example, the power saw class reviews chain saw maintenance, safety equipment and cutting techniques in the classroom and then transitions to operating chain saws through a variety of cutting activities in the field. In addition, entry level and advanced courses are being offered for attendees with a variety of skills and experience levels. A whole range of student experience levels will be present from the first-year firefighter to a firefighter with 20 years of experience.
"Working on wildfires can be dangerous in ever changing conditions, quick to expose and exploit weakness in the inexperienced firefighter," Todd Manley, MNICS training coordinator, stated in a news release. "At the Minnesota Wildfire Academy we are entrusted to pass on our knowledge, skills and wisdom to the students. It is the only way to ensure that the next generation of wildland firefighters are prepared for the many hazards that await them on the fire ground." Wildfire and all-risk response agencies recognize this need for continual learning, as well as preparing future leaders in the profession. MNICS uses the Incident Command System to run the Wildfire Academy. The system enables effective and efficient incident management by integrating facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communication within a common organizational structure.
"With a MNICS incident management team on duty for the Wildfire Academy it provides the structure needed to effectively support the training coordinators, instructors, and students," stated Incident Commander Mike Aultman. "The incident management team also provides real time experiences for trainees in ICS positions."
MNICS agencies states local partnerships are critical to the success of the Wildfire Academy, which include the Grand Rapids community and businesses, Itasca Community College and the University of Minnesota North Central Research and Outreach Center.
