Intense, prolonged drought throughout the Southwest means wildfire risk is present year-round. The city recently received the exciting news that the state of Arizona has allocated $4 million to us for the construction of a regional wildland fire training facility. This facility will provide year-round, high-quality training opportunities for local and regional fire personnel. Serving as the base for the Flagstaff Fire Department’s (FFD) Wildland Fire Management Program (WFMP), this facility will also enhance coordination among local, state and federal firefighting agencies.
There are currently no local government-operated wildland fire training facilities in Arizona. In 2016, the FFD established a regional training academy to train firefighters across the greater Flagstaff region, and this 11-week academy includes a full week focused on wildland firefighting techniques. Approximately 200 firefighters receive annual refresher wildland fire training as well.
Even with these excellent efforts and results, we can do better and can expand our efforts and our emergency preparedness. The construction of this wildland fire training facility is a huge step forward in increased firefighter safety and improved wildfire response. This purpose-built facility will be exclusively dedicated to training and developing wildland firefighters. Continuing a proven unified operational model and shared training standards combined with this new facility will benefit Northern Arizona wildland fire management efforts for years to come.
Sincere gratitude to Governor Katie Hobbs and Senator Wendy Rogers for securing this funding and to the men and women of the Flagstaff Fire Department for the outstanding planning and action that put Flagstaff in the position to build and utilize this facility.
Now we’ll have an additional tool to take this collaboration, coordination and training to the next level. This strategic investment will help to protect residents and benefit Northern Arizona and very likely the entire state.
By Becky Daggett, Mayor of Flagstaff. Originally published by Flagstaff Business News.