SPOKANE, Wash. – The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is investing more than $800,000 to train tribal members for firefighting. This funding will cover travel, course fees, and housing for those seeking firefighting qualifications.
Commissioner of Public Lands Hillary Franz emphasized the importance of this initiative. She emphasized that wildfire have an outsized impact on many Native American communities which is why it’s critical. “
We’re training, we are training state local and tribal firefighters’ side by side,” Franz said.
The program will include workshops focusing on fire suppression and prescribed fire. This collaborative training aims to prepare firefighters to work effectively together when combating fires.
This funding is expected to bolster the capabilities of tribal firefighters as they train alongside state and local counterparts.
