MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – For the next week, starting tomorrow, the Mendocino National Forest will be training candidates applying for the Willits Organized Crew.
The Organized Crew is a firefighting crew that is available for assignments from late spring through fall on a call-as-needed basis. Most participants are interested in wildland firefighting and employed in other jobs that allow flexibility for the program.
The training will take place at the Willits Community Center, located at 111 E. Commercial St. in Willits.
Beginning Saturday, the forest will be processing paperwork for applicants at the center, followed by the work capacity test on Sunday where applicants are required to walk three miles in 45 minutes carrying a 45-pound pack.
Monday through Friday will be concentrated on classroom work between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The training will be complete following a field exercise on Thursday, March 15.
This year more than 100 candidates are expected to participate in the training, among them Lake County residents.
Approximately 40 will be selected to work on two 20-person crews. This year the Mendocino will host 13 Organized Crews, including the two Willits crews.
The Organized Crew program is important for the Forest Service. The crews are called when needed and dispatched on fire assignments not only for the Mendocino National Forest, but also supporting firefighting efforts across the country.
Last year the Willits Organized Crew assignments included wildfires in Arizona and Minnesota.
The crews can also be called upon when local firefighting resources are assigned to other incidents and the fire danger is increasing locally.
The Mendocino National Forest also has brought the crews on for assignments to help with fuel reduction and forest health activities during slower fire seasons.
“This program is a huge asset for the Mendocino National Forest,” said Mendocino National Forest Fire Training Officer Jesse Roach. “These crews have local knowledge of the area and can be called up, ready and available within 12 hours.”
Once activated, the Organized Crews are treated the same as any other wildland firefighting crew. Crews are typically sent on 14-day assignments, with a required two days off between assignments. The forest also assigns at least two Forest Services firefighters as crew bosses to go out with the crew.
“The program has also produced many firefighters who have gone on to have successful careers in the Forest Service and with other firefighting programs,” Roach said.
The candidates receive $15.98 per hour and three college credits for the training. If they are selected for a crew and dispatched on a fire assignment they could earn anywhere from $15.64 to $21.04 per hour.
“We genuinely appreciate the Willits community’s support as we train the Organized Crews in preparation for the coming fire season,” Forest Supervisor Sherry Tune said. “This annual training helps us support local businesses, teach wildland firefighting skills and provide on-call work for at least 40 people on the two crews.”
For more information, please visit the Mendocino National Forest Web page at www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino or call 530-934-3316.
