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University of Idaho student doesn't let broken foot deter him from working in open spaces. Holly Bowen explores what's next for him as he travels the South.

As the current fleet of wildland firefighting aircraft begins to show its age, a new breed of airplanes has arrived to deliver greater payloads in a more versatile manner. Steve Oaks checks out the future of the Be-200ES “Rainmaker.”

The Be-200ES has been designed from the ground up to be part of the next generation of firefighting aircraft. Capable of switching between retardant and water for each drop on a fire, the Be-200ES represents tremendous versatility when suppression efforts take us into more environmentally sensitive areas.

The Rainmaker has proven itself on front lines around the world. In Italy, three drops were made on a 100-acre fire in the remote, mountainous region of southern Sardinia. At a second fire near the city of Olbia, a resort area adjacent to homes and infrastructure, the Be-200ES made 17 drops and played a major role in bringing the fire under control. A pair of Rainmakers saw action in Portugal, taking advantage of the aircraft's long-range characteristics. And the Be-200ES was called on to successfully support efforts to extinguish hundreds of fires near central Russia that had destroyed 2,000 homes and killed 54 people.

But is there an application for the Be-200ES in the United States?

It goes without saying that increases in physical fitness help facilitate numerous health benefits, such as better musculoskeletal, metabolic, cardiovascular and hemodynamic function. Research has suggested a fitter work force tends to show less absenteeism, lower job-related stress and turnover, and greater productivity.

This need is magnified for dispatchers, as prolonged sitting has become a consequence of the sedentary work environment. Research suggests that prolonged and excessive sitting throughout the day is related to increased risk of body fat retention, poorer cholesterol profiles and increased risk for various hypokinetic illnesses, such as hypertension and Type 2 diabetes. The willingness to engage in regular physical activity or exercise may be further compromised by employees' exercise aversion, the poor eating habits that accompany a high-stress working environment, lack of support from management and contradictory pressures to remain working at desks. Combine that with a busy fire season and the consequences could be very detrimental to one's health.

It is important for all wildland dispatchers and support personnel to achieve and maintain a healthful level of physical fitness as part of a complete wellness program. Katie Sell & Bequi Livingston, Ph.D., CSCS, offer some ideas for initiating or maintaining a physical activity program within the office environment and promoting a healthy attitude toward physical activity.

Developing skills by rote is an important first step, but true problem-solving requires firefighters to consider the entire picture. Scott VanderMeer examines the importance of critical thinking and how skills in that discipline can be improved.

For expanded versions of these articles, community forums and world fire news, go to www.wildfireworld.org. For access to the full articles featured in Wildfire magazine, as well as news, commentary and research on important fire service topics, go to www.wildfiremag.com.