NEWS RELEASE

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 114, Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Terry Brady
DCNR Deputy Press Secretary
(717) 772-9101

GOVERNOR RENDELL HONORS PENNSYLVANIA’S VOLUNTEER FOREST FIREFIGHTERS

HARRISBURG (March 17, 2004) — Governor Edward G. Rendell today saluted the state’s estimated 15,000 volunteer forest firefighters from some 2,000 volunteer fire companies as part of the Commonwealth’s celebration of Wildfire Prevention Week.

“These are the men and women, often from rural fire companies facing tight budgets and limited memberships, who answer the calls daily when fire breaks out in our wealth of woodlands,” Governor Rendell said. “It is only fitting that we salute them during Wildfire Prevention Week.”

Members of area volunteer fire companies, government officials and representatives of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry attended today’s Capitol Rotunda ceremony as the Governor received a resolution passed by the House of Representatives designating March 20, 2004, as “Volunteer Forest Firefighter Day.”

Introduced by Rep. Keith R. McCall of Carbon County, the resolution applauds “the very dangerous, hard physical work” of volunteer firefighters, who battle forest fires in the state’s public and private woodlands, totaling more than 17 million acres.

Governor Rendell has proclaimed the week of March 14-20 as “Wildfire Prevention Week” in Pennsylvania.

Volunteer forest firefighters must complete a minimum of 20 hours of instruction and practical work and attend training sessions and advanced special training programs on their own time. They also must buy special clothing and equipment at their own expense and maintain tools and equipment. He also noted that during the spring and summer of 2003, nine crews of 20 men and women volunteered for often-dangerous assignments battling wildfires in Western states.

“We have been fortunate in Pennsylvania, being spared the wildfires seen raging last year in California and Oregon, but that does not mean it cannot happen here,” the Governor said. “Pennsylvania averages about 1,000 wildfires a year, consuming more than 5,000 acres. In 1997, a total of 9,636 acres burned in Clinton County.

“More people are moving to developments surrounded by woodlands,” the Governor said. “That’s why the service provided by volunteer forest firefighters, the common sense advice in my annual ‘Wildfire Prevention Week’ proclamation and the guidance of DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry all are important to the health of our forest and the well-being of our residents.”

The last federal Census showed the population of Pike County, in the Pocono Mountains, surged 66 percent in 10 years. In neighboring Monroe County, the population jumped 45 percent.

Through its Pennsylvania Firewise Program, DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry works with communities and developers to lessen wildfire dangers in the state's wildland/interface areas, where developments adjoin wilderness tracts. The bureau is responsible for prevention and suppression of wildfires on the Commonwealth’s 17 million acres of private and state woodlands. The bureau maintains a fire-detection system and works with fire wardens and volunteer fire departments to ensure they are trained in the latest advances in fire prevention and suppression.

For more information on activities taking place during Wildfire Prevention Week, contact local district foresters; call the Bureau of Forestry at (717) 787-2925; or visit DCNR’s web site at www.dcnr.state.pa.us (select “Forest Fire Protection”).

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