Oct. 11, 2017 — BASTROP, Texas — Over 315 students from 13 states are
expected to attend the 20th annual Capital Area Interagency Wildfire and
Incident Management Academy that will be held from Oct. 13-25 at the Camp Swift
National Guard Facility located north of Bastrop.
The academy utilizes National Wildfire Coordinating Group
standards to enhance wildland firefighters’ knowledge while promoting safe and
cost effective operations. Classes cover topics including improving leadership
skills, fire suppression tactics, wildland fire behavior, heavy equipment
operations and tactical and logistical uses of helicopters.
“The Capital Area
Interagency Wildfire and Incident Management Academy at Camp Swift offers a lot
of training in fire and emergency management, having courses that will benefit
both new and experienced firefighters,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Chief
Response Training Coordinator Michael Gessling.
Qualifying fire departments may be awarded up to $12,000 of
tuition assistance through the Texas A&M Forest Service Rural Volunteer
Fire Department Assistance Program and the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid
System.
“Training is an import part of being prepared for
wildfires,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief Mark Stanford. “We are
glad to be able to work with all of the agencies involved, to help train
wildland firefighters from around the country, right here in Texas.”
The academy is a collaborative effort by Texas A&M
Forest Service, Texas Army National Guard, U.S. Forest Service, National Park
Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Weather Service, The Nature
Conservancy and Texas Wildfire Association.
For more information about the 20th annual Capital Area
Interagency Wildfire and Incident Management Academy, please visit the Texas
Interagency Coordination Center website at ticc.tamu.edu.
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Members of the media are invited to attend a memorial
service for fallen wildland firefighters and academy mentors at 11 a.m. on Monday,
Oct. 16. Business casual attire with closed toe shoes is required.
Tours of the academy are available on Monday, Oct. 23, upon
approval by the CAIWA Public Information Officer. Those wishing to participate
are advised that field-working conditions apply to all visitors, including
media. Long pants and sturdy hard-toe shoes are required clothing. Hard hats
are provided on site. Camp Swift is a military base and all media must
RSVP.
Kari Hines, Academy Public Information Officer, khines@tfs.tamu.edu, 512-375-0354,
Phillip Truitt, Communications Specialist, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu, 979-458-6606