Wildland Fire Division Benefits from Captain's Experiences

Posted Wednesday, September 7, 2005

 E-mail this page    Printer-friendly page

In what can best be described as an experience of a lifetime, Forsyth County Fire Department Captain, David McWhorter, recently traveled to California to gain first-hand wildland firefighting experience working with the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The unique opportunity arose when LAFD Deputy Chief Michael Bryant taught a firefighter safety and survival class to Forsyth County Fire Department personnel. McWhorter jumped at an invitation to learn from experienced wildland firefighting crews in California.

McWhorter spent a week with LAFD learning a variety of wildland firefighting techniques which he was then able to bring back and share with his co-workers in Forsyth County.

Wildland fires are those involving brush, forests and densely wooded areas. Wildland urban interface areas are strong candidates for wildland fires; these are areas of abutment of residential property to wooded areas, an increasing trend in Forsyth County.

McWhorter’s experiences included flying in the Fire Hawk helicopter and the operation of dozers that are utilized in wildland fire suppression. The dozer operation crew reviewed with McWhorter what to do in certain wildland fire situations. McWhorter said, "This served as an extension of what I had already learned in classes. After riding with them, I have a new respect for dozer operators."

Learning about available resources and how they can assist in Forsyth County was also a beneficial aspect of his trip, according to McWhorter. "I was able to see first-hand the equipment and techniques utilized to protect structures," he said. "I also learned a lot about what Federal Emergency Management Agency grants may be available to assist us in our wildland firefighting endeavors."

The Forsyth County Fire Department Wildland Division is now in its third year; this is the first year the team has had a budget. The specialized team is comprised of approximately 20 firefighters who volunteered to make wildland firefighting their specialty. They were trained to federal standards and then had to pass a national examination.

"This experience really highlighted for me the importance of Forsyth County having specialized teams," commented McWhorter. "Fire engines cant always access wooded areas, so it is imperative we have specialized wildland crews and equipment."

David McWhorter serves as a Captain with the Forsyth County Fire Department Training Division and as the Wildland Division supervisor. Now in his third year with the county, McWhorter implemented the Wildland Division in fall 2003. McWhorter also served as a volunteer firefighter with Forsyth County from 1980 until 1994.

 E-mail this page
 Printer-friendly page