Wildland Firefighter Foundation

Between 1910 and 2008 over 1,000 men and women lost their lives during mishaps related to wildland fire fighting. The first light of my awareness of wildland fire fighting hazards switched on during the 1966 Loop Fire when twelve members of the El Cariso Hot Shots lost their lives two miles from my home up in my childhood playground canyons. I grew and fought wildland fires, then supported the ground pounders with my techie skills.
I’ve met fighters of life-​taking blazes, met some first on-​sceners after historic loss of life events, known some losing their lives to fire, and known many grieved by losses of friends and loved ones. Some have gone on to serve the wildland fire community, doing all within their power to prevent more loss of people and property. Others saw a different need.
Professional wildland firefighters are gypsies of the flaming peaks. Where there’s smoke in the brush, grass or timber, they follow as ordered. When it’s flaming they apply their skills to appropriately deal with the challenge. Once done, they look for the next smoke on the horizon, eager for the call to head for the big one. When called, they do it again. The response has not only become global, the response now grows to all risks. Think hurricane, flood, shuttle recovery, 9−1−1.
Before 1999, the fallen were left with their families and the families had nearly nowhere to turn. The WFF was nurtured into being after the tragic Storm King fire; it grew, developing roots near Boise’s National Interagency Fire Center, strengthening each year, supporting the community of injured and fallen wildland firefighters and their families financially, compassionately, spiritually, emotionally and medically.
An important early part of the work was constructing the Wildland Firefighter Memorial, a monument to the many, mostly promising young people in their prime, who’ve given their lives to wildland fire.
If near, I encourage you to stop in, visit the Wildland Firefighter Memorial and Foundation office, to get a feel for the purpose and work of the wildland firefighting community. Find out more about those willingly going forth, by land, air and water, protecting the people, public and private property, and wild lands of our nation. Meanwhile, keep watching the web page and locale, there’s more good to come.