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Wildland Firefighter Program Keeps Watch on LA Fires

Instructor Jon Kellermann shares expertise with local media

Firefighters in yellow uniforms manage a controlled burn in a dry, grassy area with trees in the background

With dry weather and dangerous winds threatening to trigger another round of wildfires, more than 15,000 first responders—including firefighters from around the U.S., Canada and Mexico—are battling fires that broke out in the Los Angeles area last week.

Wildland Fire and Natural Resources instructor Jon Kellermann is watching the developments closely and knows the plan of attack. It’s the same plan he teaches his students in the Wildland Firefighter program: protect people, property and natural resources.

“You can rebuild homes. The forest will grow back. But life is precious,” Jon explains. As an instructor at FVTC for 15 years, Jon was recently asked to share his expertise with local media. While wildfire season is typically identified between May and November, Jon points out that with recurring droughts, the winter months should not be ignored.

“We’re starting to see there are not really ‘fire seasons’ anymore,” Jon says. “It is a continuous thing that has to be thought about.”


In the News

WBAY-TV: FVTC wildland firefighter program teaches skills used in California fires
WLUK-TV: WI experts explain how high winds, dry conditions are fueling LA wildfires

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