Re-certification and training for contracted wildland firefighters for the upcoming fire season is underway.
Private heavy equipment owners are required to be re-certified on an annual basis before being allowed on any active fire or fire reclamation crews. These vehicles range from fire engines of all types, water tenders, chain saw crews and their equipment, lowboy semis, skidgines which are a combination of a skidder with a water tank installed, and a host of other systems used during fire season and their employees.
Part of the requirements include physical aptitude testing, including a 3-mile timed walk with a 45-pound pack for fire engine crews and a one mile timed walk for equipment operators.
The training company that has the task of training so many companies and their personnel each year is Grady Bunch, LLC.