Minnesota Wildfire Academy

Decorative images and a title.

2022 Minnesota Wildfire Academy Brochure

Photos from the 2022 Minnesota Wildfire Academy

Green and yellow trucks in a gravel pit with people standing in the background.
Safe operations of emergency vehicles in challenging terrrain is a critical skill for wildland firefighters.
Yellow truck drives through orange cones in a gravel pit.
Learning how to safely operate an emergency vehicle through challenging terrrain is a critical skill for wildland firefighters.
A person in a yellow vest guides a yellow truck backing up in a coned lane.
Learning how to safely operate an emergency vehicle through challenging terrrain is a critical skill for wildland firefighters.
Safe operations of emergency vehicles in challenging terrain is a critical skill for wildland firefighters. 2022 Minnesota Wildfire Academy EVOC class.

Yellow fire trucks with hoods open and people in orange and yellow vest inspect the engines.
Vehicle inspections before use in wildland fire is a critical safety measure to assure equipment runs efficiently. MN Wildfire Academy 2022
People in aprons serving spaghetti from roasting pans.
Wildland firefighters attending the 2022 Minnesota Wildfire Academy were greeted to friendly faces and lunch each day.
People standing near a open commons area.
These students are waiting to purchase MN Interagency Fire apparel – a big draw for many who attend the Minnesota Wildfire Academy. Often the shirts and hats are worn with pride to in and out-of-state fire assignments.
Lunches were served each day at the 2022 Minnesota Wildifre Academy, along with opportunity to purchase Minnesota Fire apparel.
Two people look a wooden board with information signs and maps.
Students look at the information board for academy updates and classroom locations. 2022 MN Wildfire Academy.
People walking on a sidewalk.
Students walking into the 2022 Minnesota Wildfire Academy on the first day.
Student sitting in stadium seat some wearing masks.
Students participating the S-130, S-190, L-180 basic wildland firefighting course listen to the course instructor. 2022 MN Wildfire Academy
An Academy Incident Managment Team set up infromation boards and equipped each class with instructional workbooks and teaching tools, all while looking out for the safe operations of academy activities.
People sitting at a table with laptops and paperwork.
Instructions often take on teaching roles in addition to their regular firefighting responsibilities.
Equpment used in setting up a RAWS weather station.
Instructors, hands on activities, and interactive scenarios were all a part of the National Wildland Coordinating Group (NWCG) approvded courses offered at the 2022 Minnesota Wildfire Academy.
Simulations are a great teaching tool for furture leaders. The ideal weather conditions made for a great outdoor classrom environment.
Practicing ingition using a flare firing device.
Written in the sand, instructors use many teaching tools to help explain wildfire concepts.
Management of wildfire and precribed burning often invovle ignition tools that put controlled fire on the ground.
Working with equipment and learning from those with knowledge and skill and experience in a controlled learning environment helps student prepare for the line of work they will be invovled in during active wildfire suppression.
Several people stand side by side on a stage with dark curtains in the background.
The Academy Incident Managment Team led by Incident Commander Mike Aultman held daily morning updates for instructors.
A person sits at a table with a laptop and a sign reading information officer, with a larger sign in the background.
Public information officers (Leanne Langeberg seated) greeted students and media throughout the week in MacMahon Student Center at Minnesota North College, Itasca Campus in Grand Rapids, MN.
Reporter with a camer interviews a man in a dark shirt and green hat.
Media were invited to join the Academy events. Mike Aultman Academy IMT Incident Commander is interviewed by Lakeland Public Television about the academy and it’s events.
The Academy Incident Managment Team provided daily morning briefing updates, information for students and the media, and shared the academy story with reporters.
A woman and a man both with headsets sit a table with computer screens.
KAXE shared the MN Wildfire Academy during a live interview the morning of June 10, 2022.
Two men in hats sit a a table with a microphone.
Media shared interest in the activities happening during the 2022 wildfire academy. Here Incident Commander Mike Aultman and Academy Coordinator Todd Manly prepare for a live on-air interview with KAXE Grand Rapids.
A person in a yellow shirt holding a large camera pointed at two people in yellow shirts walking down a dirt path.
The interactive outdoor field exercises provided great visuals for members of the media sharing the MN Wildfire Academy story.
Several media events took place throughout the academy, including a live morning show interview and escorted vists to field training exercises.
People in yellow shirts and hardhats surround a pump with a red tank in the background.
Two people in yellow shirts and yellow hardhats roll up a white firehose that's lying on green grass.
Students in the S-130 S-190 L-180 beginning firefighter course roll up hose used during their field exercies.
Yellow fire truck released water into a read portable tank.
Grand Rapids Fire filling tanks for Basic Fire Fighter Course.
Equipment including pumps, hoses, portable water tanks, aircraft and water provided realistic hands-on activities.
Eight people work to set up a weather station in a shaded area outside.
Students along with Instructor Travis Verdegan work together to set up a RAWS weather station during the 2022 MN Wildfire Academy.
Eight people work to set up a weather station in a shaded area outside.
Students along with Instructors Travis Verdegan and Hunter Bell work together to set up a RAWS weather station during the 2022 MN Wildfire Academy.
Red hat and white gloves sit atop a black bag with sidewalk in the background.
As the academy courses came to a close, student packed up of their gear and headed out ready for the next fire assignment.
Students set up a Remote Automatic Weather Station (RAWS) during the academy.