Calvin Harris, Wildland Firefighter Bridgeport Ranger District

hen a call comes in about a too, but those cannot always reach new fire, the wildland fires in rugged terrain.” Wfirefighters of the Bridgeport Ranger is a lot to learn. I only spend about 25 District jump into action. The captain Calvin and his team work with a percent of my time in the office,” he is on the radio, coordinating with variety of different tools to combat explained. dispatchers. Some team members use wildfires. “We use chainsaws a lot to maps and a global positioning system cut through vegetation and create fire breaks,” said Calvin. “We also have For people interested in becoming (GPS) to plan the best route to the wildland firefighters, Calvin’s advice fire’s location. hand tools like the Pulaski, which is to be proactive. There are basic Others gather online courses (S-130 and S-190) information has an axe blade on one side and a offered for free through the National about the Wildfire Coordinating Group. weather, terrain, wedge-shaped hoe and vegetation, on the other. I use “Anyone who takes those courses will which influence it a lot because I have a big advantage in getting a job,” the fire’s can cut and scrape said Calvin. “And do not be afraid to behavior. without changing make phone calls to network for jobs, tools.” or even stop by a ranger district.” Calvin Harris For large fires, crews call has been part of this team for the last in aircraft and helicopters, three years. He is a seasonal wildland which can drop water or fire From the office to the field, firefighter, stationed on the Humboldt- retardants onto the flames boots symbolize the work the Toiyabe National Forest’s Bridgeport from above. “My crew U.S. Forest Service employees Ranger District in Bridgeport, was working on the Cedar do caring for the land… California. Fire in Arizona earlier this summer, and there was a huge DC-10 When working, Calvin wears White’s “Every fire I go out on is a memorable Boots, a very popular line among wild- assigned to the operation,” Calvin says experience,” said Calvin. “I feel hyped land firefighter crews. “Take good care up, but my training helps me focus and excitedly. “The pilot gave us a tour of your boots, and they’ll take care of direct my adrenaline.” during some down time. It was a really you and your feet,” he said. “You can’t memorable experience for me because work if your feet hurt. We preach that a When Calvin and his teammates I’m interested in building my career lot in fire crews, and it is very important arrive on site, they get to work. Unlike with firefighting aircraft.” to us. Even the emblem for the Wildland municipal firefighters, who often Firefighter Foundation shows a pair of rely on water to extinguish flames in Calvin says that he likes wildland worn boots with flames behind them. buildings, wildland firefighters use fire firefighting because there is always Calvin also stresses that it is important breaks. something interesting to do, even when his crew is not assigned to for wildland firefighters to keep their “There are not any hydrants in the an active fire. “We do a lot of field boots oiled. “People laugh when we shine our boots because we work in middle of the forest, so we cut a line in training and try to practice as many such a dirty environment. They ask us the vegetation down to the bare soil,” practical things as we can. We train why we bother when they are just going he explains. “When the fire reaches in safety strategies, medevac, maps, to get dirty again, but that is part of tak- it, it runs out of new fuels to burn and GPS, chainsaws, hose lay, topography, ing care of them, so it is part of the job.” goes out. We use fire engines and hoses wind patterns, all kind of things. There