N.Y. announces plans for wildfire, incident management academy

             

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will hold the sixth annual New York Wildfire and Incident Management Academy from Oct. 24-Nov. 2 at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y.

This year's academy will be the largest in its history, with 27 courses being offered for both beginning and veteran firefighters. Course offerings include Basic Wildland Firefighting and Wildfire Behavior and Fire Operations in the Urban Interface, as well as some never-before offered classes such as Engine Boss, Field Observer and Advanced Wildland Fire Behavior.

All courses will be taught by certified wildland fire and incident command instructors and meet all National Wildfire Coordination Group standards. Tuition fees are being waived once again for the annual firefighter refresher training, which is offered twice during the academy's operation.

DEC will conduct the academy along with a consortium of federal, state and county agencies, including Brookhaven National Laboratory; Department of Homeland Security and FEMA; U.S. Forest Service; Central Pine Barrens Commission; Central Pine Barrens Wildfire Task Force; Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management; New York State Emergency Management Office; Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services; Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation; and the Colorado Wildfire Academy.

The academy was developed in response to the 1995 Long Island Pine Barrens wildland fires as well as to the increased overall frequency of wildland fires on Long Island. The academy has grown from 102 students in 1998 to 563 students from 27 states in 2002.

An added training opportunity also is being incorporated into the academy this year through the opportunity to work in trainee positions as part of the academy's incident management team. Trainees will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience in a variety of IMT positions and could have portions of their task book requirements signed off.

Class registrations must be received by the close of business on Oct. 8. Early registration is encouraged as there are limited number of class spaces available for certain courses.

For further information or to receive an academy brochure and registration packet, contact Charles Hamilton at 631-444-0270 or visit www.dec.state.ny.us/website/reg1/acad.html.