FEATURE
WWW.BENDSOURCE.COM / JUNE 27, 2019 / BEND’S INDEPENDENT VOICE
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PREPARING FOR WILDFIRE SEASON S In the midst of heightened awareness about the risk of wildfires, dozens train to become qualified wildland firefighters Story and photos by Keely Damara
Students from various state and federal agencies learn to dig line during a live fire exercise south of Sisters on June 20. Keely Damara
ummer has arrived, with fire season right on its tail—and the memory of last year’s destructive wildfires aren’t far from the collective minds of various state and federal agencies tasked with preventing and responding to Oregon wildfires. Last week, 58 students from various agencies received several days of training organized by the Central Oregon Fire Management Service to become qualified wildland firefighters. In addition to in-class training that focused on communication and team-building skills, the students spent June 20 training in a live fire exercise just south of Sisters. We tagged along. Larae Guillory, assistant fire management officer with the Sisters Ranger