By working together, agencies can leverage their collective expertise and resources to address the complex challenges posed by wildfires and protect lives, property, and natural resources.
The 2024 Intermediate Wildfire Academy currently underway in Chugiak marks a multiyear and significant collaboration between Alaska’s Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, the Kansas Forest Service and two of Colorado’s Emergency Response Agencies. This year’s academy also emphasizes the importance of diversity as twenty eight cadets from across Alaska bring a wealth of backgrounds and experiences to the table.
The involvement of individuals from remote Alaskan villages like Kwethluk, Kalskag, Hooper Bay, Good News Bay, Chevak, Hughes, Huslia, and Allakaket is particularly noteworthy, highlighting the necessity of providing training opportunities to rural Alaskans. Cadets from rural areas receive comprehensive assistance, including full support for their air transportation and logistical needs to attend the Academy. Furthermore, all cadets benefit from provisions for food, lodging, and compensation for ten days of classroom hours. This compensation is especially valuable as it helps cadets manage the expenses associated with being away from their families and work duties in their home areas.
The intermediate cadets primarily consist of members of Alaska’s Emergency Firefighter (EFF) program, with additional representation from various fire crews across the state. These include the Mat-Su-based Gannett Glacier Fire Crew, as well as individuals from the Fairbanks Area and Copper River Basin Area. The academy also welcomes participants from Yukon Fire Crew and the Scorched Earth Services (SES) contract crews. This diverse cohort epitomizes the inclusive ethos of the Alaska Wildfire Academy Program, offering firefighters an invaluable opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills.
Throughout the Intermediate Academy, cadets engage in a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on training exercises. Key focus areas include advanced firefighting techniques, leadership development, and incident command system (ICS) implementation, all with a focus on firefighter safety and risk management.
Highlighting the Importance of Ongoing Partnerships
“Kansas Forest Service is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the 2024 Alaska Wildfire Academy. Through partnerships and shared learning opportunities, KFS firefighters are able to expand their knowledge of wildland fire and bring back skills to the state that can be shared in our communities. KFS believes in assisting others knowing that Kansas can lean on our partners in times of need.” Bill Waln, Kansas Forest Service Fire Management Officer
At the heart of the Intermediate Academy’s effectiveness is a team of nine instructors, all bringing extensive experience and expertise to the training curriculum. Four instructors are located in Alaska, three are employed by the Kansas Forest Service and reside in Kansas, while the remaining two represent fire departments within Colorado’s network of Emergency Response Agencies.
Both the Basic and Intermediate Academies operate under the Incident Command System. Leading the 2024 academy as Incident Commander is Ben Engelhardt, a returning cadre, former five year State of Alaska employee, and member of the Manitou Springs Fire Department since 2011. Ben brings extensive experience, having previously served with the Tazlina Interagency Hot Shot Crew and Pioneer Peak Interagency Hot Shot Crew (IHC). In addition, Ben served for five years in the Tok area as a Forestry Technician. Elizabeth Guess, a first-year academy instructor and coach, also joins from Colorado. Elizabeth represents the South Arkansas Fire Protection District based in Salida, Colorado. She served as a Crew Coach and Instructor in the Basic Academy and is the Lead Instructor of the S-131 Advanced Firefighter portion of the Intermediate.
Fulfilling the role of Academy Operations Chief is returning instructor Matt Jones, who previously served as Superintendent for both the Tazlina IHC and Pioneer Peak IHC. With six previous Academy seasons under his belt, Matt has been a consistent presence despite the challenges posed by COVID. He is currently in his seventh season as a Kansas Forest Service Fire Protection Specialist. Christopher Hanson, a returning cadre member, is serving in position of Academy Deputy Operations Chief. Having transitioned from his role as District Fire Management Officer with the Kansas Forest Service, Christopher now serves as a Fire Protection Specialist. Additionally, returning Lead Instructor and Crew Coach Brent Benson, a former Pioneer Peak Hot Shot and Mat-Su Area Technician, resides in Kansas and works as a Fire Protection Specialist with the Kansas Forest Service.
Rodney Redinger, Kansas Forest Service Assistant Fire Management Officer – Operations and Training, provided context for this article. “The Kansas Forest Service (KFS) fire staff in Alaska is part of the Fire Protection Specialist (FPS) program. The FPS program provides individuals with the opportunity to assist the KFS Fire Program when needed in our state or nationally. The safety of firefighters is the number one priority in the KFS Fire Program. We are committed to training our firefighters to increase their safety while deployed. Taking a leadership role in the Alaska Wildfire Academy shows the experience, dedication, and professionalism of the Kansas Forest Service firefighters.” Read more about the KFS Fire Protection Specialist Program.
The Alaska-based cadre for the Academy includes Daniel Skriloff, Justin Hansen, Jarrod MacNeil and Kale Casey. Daniel, currently stationed in Girdwood, serves as a heavy equipment operator for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. With extensive experience, he returns as an Instructor and Crew Coach, having previously served for years as a Hot Shot with Pioneer Peak IHC. Justin Hansen, a returning Subject Matter Expert in tree felling, provides invaluable support for the Academy’s S212 Wildfire Chainsaw Class. Formerly a member of the Pioneer Peak Hot Shot crew, Justin now works as a tree feller for Matanuska Electric Association. Jarrod MacNeil is a returning member of the cadre and serves as the on site Emergency Medical Technician. Jarrod is based in Salcha, Alaska and deploys to wildfires as a member of DOF’s Fire Medic Program. Kale Casey, balancing his time between his business in Willow, Alaska, and his previous life in Western Colorado, serves as the Academy’s Social Media Coach and Public Information Officer (PIO). Leveraging his five years of experience as the Lead PIO for the Alaska Interagency Incident Management Team, Kale brings expertise to his role.
As wildfires continue to pose significant challenges across Alaska and beyond, partnerships like the one between the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, the Kansas Forest Service and two of Colorado’s Emergency Response Agencies are essential for building resilient firefighting networks. Their collective knowledge and experience enrich the training curriculum and provide cadets with valuable insights into wildfire response strategies and best practices in both Alaska and the Lower 48.
For firefighters seeking to advance their careers and make a meaningful impact in wildfire management, the Intermediate Wildfire Academy offers a transformative learning experience. With the support of dedicated instructors and the backing of collaborative partnerships, cadets are empowered to take their careers to the next level and make a lasting difference in safeguarding our communities and natural landscapes from the threat of wildfires.
Graduation is on Sunday May 12th at 10am and will be live streamed on DOF’s Facebook Page.
Division of Forestry and Fire Protection Social Media Sites
👉 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AlaskaDNRDOF
👉 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AK.Forestry/
👉 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/akstatefire/
Visit 👉 https://forestry.alaska.gov/training/recruitment for current job openings
Visit 👉 https://forestry.alaska.gov/training/schedule for upcoming trainings
Categories: AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF), recruitment, Training
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 