WFD preparing for what could be another bad wildfire season

For the first time, the Wichita Fire Department is implementing extra wildfire training for its firefighters.

“The fires have been unprecedented in the state back to back record breaking years, in terms of large fire events,” says Battalion Chief Lane Pearman. “The fuels are changing. They are even changing here in Wichita and within Sedgwick County.”

Pearman says wildfires aren’t typically a problem in the city of Wichita, but because of the changing landscape in the region, the department wants its firefighters to be prepared.

“Like other departments within the state, we participate in mutual aid,” Pearman explained. “The last couple years we have sent resources up to Barber County and Reno & Harvey Counties.”

Every Wichita firefighter will receive about four and a half hours of specialized training, led in part by Rodney Redinger of the Kansas Forest Service. Redinger has helped fight some of the largest wildfires across the country.

“Safety is obviously the number one concern with everybody,” Redinger explained when describing what the training entails. “As we are going through training, we try to look at areas that if you are gaining access to a fire and the wind shifts, where can you go that you won’t get caught by the flames?”

Pearman says that’s the main takeaway he’s seen for his firefighters.

“A fire occurring today, right here, is going to look and act completely different on a day where the wind is blowing 30 mph, and the humidity is in the teens,” said Pearman. “That difference can be dramatic.”

And we could be in for another brutal fire season. Redinger says nationally, agencies are already looking at this region as they plan out where to send resources.

“We are in conversations this week with not only the Kansas Forest Service, but we will have a conference call tomorrow with the Division of Emergency Management, weather service, U.S. Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife Service, and other partner agencies to allocate resources ahead of time,” Redinger said. “If we have them available to move around.”

Redinger says if people will pay attention to the weather, and avoid things that might be a fire risk on days of high wind and low humidity, it will go a long way.

You can read more of his tips on preparing for potential wildfires