April 25, 2024
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Protect forests and natural resources as a USDA wildland firefighter

The USDA Forest Service Eastern Region has 14 openings

By Denise M. Baran-Unland
Flames and smoke from the Ponderosa Fire are seen, Monday Aug. 20, 2012, near Paynes Creek, Calif. Nearly 1,900 firefighters were battling the Ponderosa Fire in rugged, densely forested terrain as it threatened 3,500 homes in the towns of Manton, Shingletown and Viola, about 170 miles north of Sacramento.

Flames and smoke from the Ponderosa Fire are seen, Monday Aug. 20, 2012, near Paynes Creek, Calif. Nearly 1,900 firefighters were battling the Ponderosa Fire in rugged, densely forested terrain as it threatened 3,500 homes in the towns of Manton, Shingletown and Viola, about 170 miles north of Sacramento. (AP Photo)

In Tuesday’s Herald-News story, Christoper Lundgren of Wilmington shared his experiences helping to fight the Bootleg Fire in the Fremont Winema National Forest in Oregon.

Lundgren is a forest fire management officer with the USDA Forest Service based in Wilmington. Lundgren and his team are based out of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.

On Wednesday, Midewin Tallgrass National Prairie sent a news release saying that the USDA Forest Service Eastern Region is recruiting people “to support wildfire suppression efforts and fuels management throughout the Northeast and Midwest in 2022.” The 14 openings are located in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

The USDA Forest Service website said the work hours may be long and conditions “challenging and changing,” such as “high temperatures and steep terrain.” But the benefits include “the opportunity to work in some of the most beautiful places in the country and create friendships that last a lifetime,” the website said.

In the Herald-News story, Lundgren said he’s worked for the USDA Forest Service for 26 years, shortly after his high school graduation. His father had also worked for the frest service as a district firefighter, which inspired Lundgren who said he enjoys the strategizing and planning of putting out fires.

For more information, visit fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/careers.