14 Michigan DNR Employees Join Fire Suppression Efforts in Alaska and Manitoba

By Vanessa Torres

Michigan -(Ammoland.com)- Fourteen Michigan Department of Natural Resources employees, who are trained as firefighters, currently are helping to contain wildfires in Alaska and Manitoba.

Three four-man crews have been dispatched to Manitoba to assist with its ongoing wildfire suppression efforts. Manitoba is a partner in the Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact, which also consists of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ontario. Additionally, two DNR employees are serving in leadership roles on the Tanana Area fires – the largest complex of wildfires currently burning in Alaska.

“Cooperative efforts between counties, states and countries are crucial during emergency situations,” said Bill O’Neill, chief of the DNR Forest Resources Division. “The experience our highly trained staff receives when they are on out-of-state assignments is an asset when they are fighting wildfires here at home.”

The DNR will continue to provide assistance to the national fire efforts while fire conditions remain critical. Nationally, there are nine large uncontained fires currently burning, with 163 new fires that started July 21.

When sent on out-of-state assignments, the DNR is fully reimbursed for all costs associated with the …read more

Source:: AmmoLand