Pocono News Section

Volunteer Returns After Fighting California Wildfire

Volunteer Returns After Fighting California Wildfire - Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 6:20PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Wednesday, Aug 26, 2009 @ 06:20pm EST
Watson Township, Lycoming County-

Things are pretty quiet around the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry office near Jersey Shore. For Jim Hyland, that's quite a change from the past few weeks.

Hyland, a forestry program specialist, recently spent 14 days battling the La Brea wildfire in central California.

He said, "Apparently it started by what was rumored to be drug traffickers growing marijuana in the Los Padres National Forest."

Jim originally thought he was heading to Alaska to battle a different wildfire. But at the last minute, he and about 20 other volunteers from all around Pennsylvania were re-routed to California.

Hyland recalled, "We saw 50-100 foot flames burning in a type of shrub out there they call manzanita."

This was Hyland's third time heading out west to battle a wildfire.

He says the change from working day shift here to night shift on the fire line makes things even more difficult.

Hyland noted, "Each day consists of sixteen hours on the fire line followed by eight hours rest."

The 90,000 acre La Brea wildfire- roughly the size of the greater Philadelphia area- is now almost fully contained.

But Hyland says opportunities to fight fires like this are out there for anyone who's interested.

He explained, "You have to pass a physical test and take a number of courses to qualify yourself and you have to attend an annual training."

To find out more about how you can get involved, contact DCNR - Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.