WVFA Spring 2019

I N D U S T R Y N E W S 12 West Virginia Forestry Association Mountain State Forestry  | Spring 2019 www.wvfa.org First-Responder Foresters: An Unrecognized Force LAST YEAR, THE DIVISION OF FORESTRY had the honor of hosting the National Association of State Foresters Annual Meeting in Charleston. Foresters from around the world, their families and staff spent nearly a week enjoying the beauty of the Mountain State. Throughout their visit, I heard numerous conference attendees expressing their appreciation of our state’s beautiful mountain terrain. I can appreciate the awe of West Virginia’s scenery more than most. Although I am a native of Mingo County, I had to leave the state for several years to pursue job opportunities that were not available to me otherwise; a decision many West Virginians have faced. I worked several years in Indiana; a great state but also a very flat one. Regardless of where my mail was delivered, I longed for the days when I could sit on the front porch and take in the incredible beauty of West Virginia’s hills once again. Unfortunately, the magnificent view reminds me of the truth that so many of our residents have the benefit of never knowing. Just over the mountain, whose very beauty has me standing in awe, could be a raging wildfire threatening land, wildlife, businesses and homesteads. The Division of Forestry’s personnel faces that fire, so you can enjoy the serene view from your porches without the fear of knowing the dangers that lurk just over mountain. The public rarely sees wildland firefighters in the same heroic light as their brave counterparts in conventional firefighting. You will not see our wildland firefighters responding to emergencies in a big red firetruck equipped with tankers and hoses close by to assist in quick suppression, nor will you see them on the street in a typical firefighting uniform or turnout gear. When the Division’s wildland firefighters respond, they will respond in a simple pickup truck full of rakes, leaf blowers and chain saws that they will hand- carry through hazardous terrain in the most extreme weather conditions. These brave men and women will remain on the fire scene, wearing heavy heat-resistant boots and long-sleeve fire-retardant shirts, packing a minimum of 45 pounds of gear, for as long as it takes to assess the situation, determine the best solution to rapid containment and eliminate the threat to West Virginia and her people. Although wildfire suppression is the Division’s top priority, our personnel are often called to assist other agencies in emergency situations. Specifically, our foresters were highly engaged in assisting victims during the 2016 flood and removing trees and other debris after Superstorm Sandy and the derecho which paralyzed the state. Not only should we do more to show our appreciation for our wildland firefighters for the contribution they make to the safety of our state, but we also need to recognize the contribution they make for the safety of our country. These extraordinary men and women do not hesitate to respond when the United States Forest Service calls for volunteers to fight raging wildfires devastating other states like we recently witnessed in California and Tennessee. This group, known as the Western Fire Crew, has been called numerous times to assist in national emergency situations—always returning home with stellar marks for their efficiency and professionalism. During the 2018 Regular Session, the Legislature adopted Senate Bill 625. The Act provided a death benefit for specific emergency responders who die in the line-of-duty. The language of the Act is silent as it relates to the Division’s personnel. Although I will continue to do everything within my power to ensure that our foresters and wildland firefighters stay as safe as possible while engaging in these types of dangerous duties, I have been advocating for an amendment to the Act to guarantee that our forestry personnel are entitled to the same benefits as their first-responder colleagues, should we suffer the devastating loss of one of our own. By Barry L. Cook Director/State Forester West Virginia Division of Forestry