Lomakatsi’s Fire Operations Manager Sean Voorhes, an expert instructor with 30 years of wildland fire experience, guided the class through the nationally-recognized training that covered the basics of fire behavior, safety, wildland fire operations, and equipment use—weaving in his own stories and experience.
Program Crew Leader Antonio Lopez shared insights from his experiences working on recent incidents with Lomakatsi’s seasoned crews, who spend summer months on wildland fire response. Several Lomakatsi restoration crew members and staff also took the class to advance their certifications.
After four days in the classroom, the crew spent today outside, putting their hands on wildland fire tools, digging a containment hand line, learning the basics of radio and hand mirror communication, and touring Lomakatsi’s Type 6 Engine. Thank you to Sean for the excellent instruction this week, and a big shout out to Oregon Youth Works/Oregon Conservation Corps for funding this 18-week program for 18-26 year olds from Jackson County, toward our shared goal of creating fire-adapted communities and training the workforce of tomorrow.
