October 4, 2023
25th
Annual Wildfire Academy begins this week at Camp Swift
BASTROP, Texas – The 25th annual Capital Area Interagency Wildfire and Incident
Management Academy (CAIWA) begins at the Camp Swift National Guard Facility in
Bastrop, Texas this week. The academy will take place Oct 6-18, 2023.
Each year, firefighters travel across the state and nation to attend the
academy to continue their education and earn National Wildfire Coordinating
Group (NWCG) training qualifications. The mission of Texas Interagency Wildfire
and Incident Management Academies, including CAIWA, is to enhance wildland
firefighters’ knowledge, utilizing NWCG standards, while promoting safe and
cost-effective operations.
Thirty classes are available this year that emphasize entry-level and
intermediate training in wildfire suppression for firefighters and incident
managers. A total of 327 students are expected to attend, representing over 85 organizations
and agencies, from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan,
Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Washington are expected to attend.
“Training is considered a top priority for many fire departments and response
agencies, whether local, state or federal,” said Meredith McNeil, Texas A&M
Forest Service Chief Response Training Coordinator. “As an agency, we are
honored to help firefighters reach their training goals and better serve their
communities.”
Training tuition assistance is available to eligible departments through Texas
A&M Forest Service under the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance
Program (HB 2604) and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS).
Academy partners include the Texas Army National Guard, Texas A&M Forest
Service, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, USDA Forest Service, National
Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Weather Service, Federal
Bureau of Prisons and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System.
The 20th annual Wildland Firefighter Memorial Service, held during the academy,
will be held Oct. 9. This service honors firefighters who have died in the line
of duty while fighting wildfires.
Additional academy information is available on the Texas Interagency
Coordination Center (TICC) webpage at ticc.tamu.edu.
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Editor’s note:
Members of the media are invited to attend the memorial and a media day to
visit field classes Oct. 9. To attend either event, please make prior
arrangements with Public Information Officer Kari Hines.
Texas A&M Forest Service Contacts:
Kari Hines, Academy Public Information Officer, khines@tfs.tamu.edu, 512-375-0354
Texas A&M Forest Service Communications Office, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu, 979-458-6606