More and more people are making their homes in woodland settings, in or near forests, in rural areas, or on remote mountain sites. Homeowners enjoy the beauty of the environment, but face the very real danger of an urban brush fire. Wind and dry weather conditions, dead fuels, and vegetation in the surrounding areas are sources of these potentially dangerous fuels.

Eastside Fire & Rescue’s Wildland Firefighting Team was formed in 1991. The purpose of the Team was to provide an increased level of skill and safety to the overall wildland fire and/or structure protection within our area. In addition, we can provide mutual aid to our neighboring jurisdictions.

Members of the Team are trained to meet or exceed standards set by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group and the National Fire Protection Association for wildland firefighters. Local training, Washington State courses, and knowledge gained during field assignments are all part of the training and experience members receive.

Typically, structural firefighting crews are first to arrive on scene to a brush or wildland fire. Depending upon the location, size, and duration of the fire, the Wildland Firefighting Team is then called out to assist with specialized equipment and additional personnel. Eastside Fire & Rescue in cooperation with the Washington Department of Natural Resources maintain a brush truck that is fully equipped with specialized tools and hoses. In addition, the Agency now has and dual multi-purpose, four-wheel drive specialized engine that can be used in remote areas where a regular engine is unable to access.

Wildland and urban brush fires can exist wherever residential, industrial, and agricultural structures are located adjacent to trees and other combustible vegetation. Eastside Fire & Rescue’s Wildland Team is committed to providing the highest level of wildfire protection and safety to the citizens we serve.

For more information on how you can help reduce your risk of wildfires. – Defensible Space Practices (PDF) .  Check it out on their website at http://www.eastsidefire-rescue.org.

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Source:  Eastside Fire and Rescue web page