This past week consisted of four 10-hour days of classroom. The United States Forest Service taught myself and about 40 other AmeriCorps volunteers the ins and outs of wildland firefighting, in the end, each one of us earning our Red Card Certification. The class began with a full day of S-190 (intro to wildland fire behavior). This class taught us about factors which influence a wildfire, such as topography, weather, and fuels. It was interesting, with a lot of new and useful information for me! We took a test, which I passed (cough 100% cough...lol), then we started S-130 (Firefighter training). This course was more like a review for me, although just as helpful and interesting as the S-190. We went over topics like a VERY abbreviated Haz-Mat Awareness course, another very abbreviated course on ICS, watch out situations while fighting wildland fires, how to cut a line through different terrain and finally, PPE (personal protective equipment - nothing like structural firefighting) and the different pieces of apparatus the Forest Service uses. Wildland firefighting PPE consists of the following items: Hard-hat, safety glasses, smoke goggles, ear plugs, hard-hat neck shroud, Nomex long sleeve shirt, leather gloves, Nomex pants, and 10in Hawthorne leather boots with Vibram sole. The apparatus they use- or their "engines" are basically something between a F350 and an F550 with a 5 person cab and a 500 gallon tank with pump. Tonka trucks compared to EG eng 2 or 3! But all in all, they do the job they are meant to do.
Some aspects of wildland firefighting are completely different from structural firefighting, and actually took me a minute to wrap my head around. Such as, a house, when involved in a wildland fire, is simply more fuel for the fire! Wildland firefighters do their best to protect the house from the outside. No interior attacks! Their rule is to triage the houses, meaning save the ones that can be saved, by either cutting lines far enough away from the house, or to back burning the forest, so as to "pre-burn it" under their control. However, if a house is already 1/4 involved (normally on the roof), it is considered a loss and they move on to the next house!
Throughout the class, I did some networking and basically was told that my application to the apprenticeship program, was a waste of time. Enrollment into the program is extremely difficult without 2 or 3 years of wildland firefighting experience, or military veteran status... neither of which I have. I was told the way to get hired is to start on an engine company for the forest service or BLM. Make yourself known at each firehouse I want to apply to by making an appointment to stop by, bringing my resume with me. This is near impossible for me, because I have nearly zero free time, and no mode of transportation readily at hand... very frustrating. So really the only way I could get a job with the Forest Service or BLM, is to get a job with the crews that I work with over the next 6 months.
The past two weeks have been really frustrating for me. With the lack of work, I had plenty of time to think about what I want to do after AmeriCorps.. or realistically, I realized that I have no idea what I want to do! A job with the forest service would be awesome, but I'm not sure (a) it's possible, (b) where I want to live/work, and (c) what I want to do career wise. Maybe I'm just thinking too much about it, but the idea of me living 3000 miles away from my family, especially with a neice on the way, is disheartening to me. I know I have time to think about it, but I think that the next 6 months will go by really quick, and I'll be jobless!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Chainsaws + California forest + Me = happiness!
The two days of classes on chainsaws weren't that bad! They went by quickly and they were the best training we have recieved so far! I think it's not only due to the fact that the topic is exciting and interesting, but our instructor was also interesting. It turned out to be my teams first project site-supervisor, the Battalion Chief from the BLM Mother Lode Region. After the two days of classes, we got to go out to the forest in El Dorado Hills, CA, and cut some brush and trees down! What more can I ask for!?!? The day was perfect, not too cold, not too hot, and cloudy! We were split into 5 groups of 5 students to 1 teacher. Using our Stihl 26 inch bar chainsaws we began cutting small shrubbery and brush. In the afternoon, we each had a chance to fall a tree (up to 8 inches in diameter), limb it, and buck it up (cut into smaller manuverable pieces). Even though I've fallen trees before, it was still exciting to me, and will always be! My team and I are now certified as Class A sawyers (meaning I can fall trees up to 8 inches in diameter). Here's a link to a photo album of the few pictures I took throughout the day.. They are mostly of the other people in my group, and a few of the Battalion Chief falling a staub that was endangering the roadway and a power line.
Today, we switched roles 180 degrees, and planted shade trees around the city of Sacramento. The Sacramento Tree Foundation is a non-profit organization that has been satisfying the needs of it's "customers" (at no cost to them) with deciduous trees and assisting them plant their new trees for almost 30 years. Today, my team and I planted 16 trees at different peoples houses around the Sacramento area.
As for that application to the US Forest Service Apprenticeship program, I sent it in the other day. I spoke with the Battalion Chief, and he said it is an excellent way to start a career in the wildland firefighting field, but with my lack of experience in the field it may be difficult to get accepted. But definitly worth a shot! Maybe at the end of the project with him, I will ask for a letter of recommendation to boost my probability! We'll see how things go!
And, we start Wildland Firefighter training next week!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
It's been a while...
It's been a while since I've posted but Christmas break was enjoyable. I spent a lot of time with family and friends, shot my first deer, and ate some amazing home-made food! Now I'm back in Sacramento and getting ready to go back to "work" in the morning. When almost every other team is leaving tomorrow, to go on their Spike, my team is staying in Sacramento, with the other FMTs (Fire Management Teams). After physical training at 6am tomorrow, we start chain-saw training at 8. The next two days are all class, about chainsaws... not too sure how much they can talk about chainsaws for 16 hours, but I will let you know! Then some day next week we get to go into the "field" and actually use the chainsaws. Nothing new to me really, because I have grown up using chainsaws with Poppy!
As for my life after AmeriCorps, I found out yesterday about an apprenticeship that the US Forest Service offers. If accepted, they send me through a 4 week academy, located at McClellan Air Force Base - right where I am currently. Actually the training we will be recieving will be at the same building where the apprenticeship academy is held! I'm hoping to make connections during training, so that when I send my application in, there is a better chance to get accepted. After the academy, I would be inaugurated into the US Forest Service, and begin my two year commitment around the Northwestern region of the US. I would obviously start out as the probie, but the possibility of growth is near endless. And there is the fact that I would be a Federal employee so the benefits and retirement package are a plus too!
Now I just need to start my training and fill out the application!
As for my life after AmeriCorps, I found out yesterday about an apprenticeship that the US Forest Service offers. If accepted, they send me through a 4 week academy, located at McClellan Air Force Base - right where I am currently. Actually the training we will be recieving will be at the same building where the apprenticeship academy is held! I'm hoping to make connections during training, so that when I send my application in, there is a better chance to get accepted. After the academy, I would be inaugurated into the US Forest Service, and begin my two year commitment around the Northwestern region of the US. I would obviously start out as the probie, but the possibility of growth is near endless. And there is the fact that I would be a Federal employee so the benefits and retirement package are a plus too!
Now I just need to start my training and fill out the application!
Friday, December 17, 2010
By the way...
In case you were wondering where to send me stuff now.. I'm back in Sacramento, so use this address again!
Matthew A. Spears, Class 17 CM, Gold 4
AmeriCorps NCCC
3427 Laurel St.
McClellan, CA 95652
And, I just realized that I haven't made a post about what Gold 4 is doing next round, after Christmas break! I am really excited about this! We finally get trained for Red Card Wildland Firefighting Certification. This is going to last 2 (maybe 3) weeks in length, after which we are staying in Sacramento, and working in El Dorado, CA with the BLM (Bureau of Land Management). We will be working on fire lines (breaks in the forest to prevent the spread of wildfires if and when they occur). This work will include clearing brush, falling and chipping trees. I'm really excited to work with the BLM and start my networking, hoping for a job with either the BLM or the Forest Service after AmeriCorps.
El Dorado, CA is according to WikiPedia, is one of the most prestigious residential areas in Northern CA. Check it out online! The center of town looks like a castle!! We won't be working in town, but the area is settled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains... ie GORGEOUS country!!!!!!! YAY!!!!
More info to come, probably over break when I get time to look it up!
Matthew A. Spears, Class 17 CM, Gold 4
AmeriCorps NCCC
3427 Laurel St.
McClellan, CA 95652
And, I just realized that I haven't made a post about what Gold 4 is doing next round, after Christmas break! I am really excited about this! We finally get trained for Red Card Wildland Firefighting Certification. This is going to last 2 (maybe 3) weeks in length, after which we are staying in Sacramento, and working in El Dorado, CA with the BLM (Bureau of Land Management). We will be working on fire lines (breaks in the forest to prevent the spread of wildfires if and when they occur). This work will include clearing brush, falling and chipping trees. I'm really excited to work with the BLM and start my networking, hoping for a job with either the BLM or the Forest Service after AmeriCorps.
El Dorado, CA is according to WikiPedia, is one of the most prestigious residential areas in Northern CA. Check it out online! The center of town looks like a castle!! We won't be working in town, but the area is settled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains... ie GORGEOUS country!!!!!!! YAY!!!!
More info to come, probably over break when I get time to look it up!
Home from Green River
Leaving Green River was more difficult than I had anticipated. Having grown up and lived most of my life in a small town, I have prior knowledge of how close people can become when placed in that type of setting. However, I wasn't ready for it to end! The friends I made in Green River: Jack, Aimee, Wes, Maria, Haley, Justin, and the rest of the PACT crew, made a huge impact on my time spent in Green River. They were not only very inviting, but they were supportive and encouraging, in that time, and for my life ahead of me!
The last week in Green River at the EpiCenter, was spent building, installing and painting the cornice- the top decorative piece (which you can see pics of and read about on the EpiCenter's blog... http://epicenter.tumblr.com/
I'm proud to say that Gold 4 finished all assigned projects at the EpiCenter, and then some! We went above and beyond, on all accounts!
There were parties, lots of parties during the last few days in Green River. From the EpiCenter Christmas Party, which included a "White Elephant"/"Dirty Santa" or whatever you call it. I ended up with this antique/old looking scale - which was fairly accurate! I left it at the EpiCenter for them to use!
The last week in Green River at the EpiCenter, was spent building, installing and painting the cornice- the top decorative piece (which you can see pics of and read about on the EpiCenter's blog... http://epicenter.tumblr.com/
I'm proud to say that Gold 4 finished all assigned projects at the EpiCenter, and then some! We went above and beyond, on all accounts!
There were parties, lots of parties during the last few days in Green River. From the EpiCenter Christmas Party, which included a "White Elephant"/"Dirty Santa" or whatever you call it. I ended up with this antique/old looking scale - which was fairly accurate! I left it at the EpiCenter for them to use!
Then there was the Community Center Christmas Party, where each of the members of Gold 4 was given a present from the Community Center and the kids in the after school program. Although I never worked with or played with the kids in the community center, I was treated as if they knew me well. The presents were partially the same for each one of us; which included a box of cereal, a tube of toothpaste, and a travel size thing of irish spring soap - it is definitely the thought that counts, when you're dealing with food bank presents! Anyway, the coolest part of each gift was the wrapping. Each member was given a pillowcase that was hand drawn on, and signed by each of the kids! The drawings were of something the NCCC member liked alot. They ranged from people dancing, to Rihanna (Adam really likes her), to mine, which was a picture of Eminem! Me, a country boy at heart... I do enjoy listening to Eminem, and it just seemed to stick especially during the numerous dance parties. It was funny, and I really appreciated it!
The drive home was full of excitement, mixed emotions, and bad weather! Everything from heavy dense fog, to near blizzard conditions with ice and snow. Overall, it was a boat load of fun! We made it back to Sac in one piece, and it was good to be back, and to sleep in real beds! And now I'm looking forward to Christmas break, where I'm heading back to CT for 2 weeks, to spend time with my family and friends! It's only been 3 months, but it will be really good to see everyone!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Thanksgiving, Vegas and my birthday = crazy awesomeness!!!
Where to start... The past few weeks were full of first-times for me. All of which involved not being at home! First thanksgiving and first birthday away from my home, my family, and my friends! It's not like I was worried or too terribly sad about it, because I knew I was spending the holiday and my birthday with some amazing people I am lucky enough to call friends. First off, Thanksgiving dinner was mostly prepared for us by the local Coffee Shop. It was a potluck dinner, where we brought mashed potatoes and two pies. There were probably 50 people from the community attending the dinner. The food was amazing and the comoradorie between everyone was equally amazing. People from different backgrounds and cultures getting together over dinner, and talking as if we were all family, it was truly something I was thankful for!
After dinner, Kate, Lara, and myself took a 1984 Toyota Tercel (with 274,000 miles on it, a backseat made of plywood type material, sticky doors, and a drivers door that doesn't unlock {as we soon found out}) to LAS VEGAS, NV. We were hoping to get out of the cold and windy weather of Green River UT, and head to the warmth of Las Vegas. hmm... well, it was cold and windy there too! But it sure was fun! I met up with my friend from CT who moved to Vegas 5 months ago, and we had some fun on the Strip! I can proudly say I did not gamble tho!!! I'll post the picture album from facebook as a link below, but between the red rocks hike, the nights out on the strip, and the hanging out with some good friends, my best memory will be the ride home! What was supposed to be a 6 hour ride, took 9.5 hours! Apparently people from UT and NV do NOT know how to drive in the snow! It was only a few inches, but the wind was blowing hard and it was COLD COLD COLD out! Travelling as slow as 5 mph at times, "Phyllis" was a champ. We powered through blizzard passing newer cars and SUVs with ease! Maybe it was my superb New England driving coming out, or maybe it was "Phyllis" and a lil luck... we will never know the truth! All's that matters is that we made it out, safe and sound, and with some pretty hilarious stories!!!
My birthday was truly amazing as well! Like I said before, it is my first one I have spent away from home. I really wasn't expecting much of anything, but what I got was shocking! Working at the EpiCenter in the morning, Adam and I left to go to the Medical Center to help out for a few hours. After 5 hours of tediously boring filing medical records, we left to go back to the EpiCenter. On my arrival was a surprise birthday party, with cupcakes that had trick candles on them, balloons, streamers, and noise/streamer poppers (which taste like gunpowder by the way)!!! It was more than I ever anticipated, especially from people I literally met 3 weeks before! The party continued back to the house where later that night I was surprised again with two apple pies (my favorite!), and more wonderful singing... it had to be the 3rd or 4th time I was sang to that day! I loved it!!! Finally, my birthday ended with a trip to Ray's Tavern (the only watering hole in Green River). Ray's serves food, and only beer.. and it's Utah beer (which has to be under 3.2% alc by vol.)... damn Utah laws. Nonetheless, we had fun! (as we always do). We closed down Ray's (at 8:30 or 9:00 - yea, everything closes really early around here), but the party continued at Jack's house (an EpiCenter employee), probably until 2:00am. I will truly never forget this birthday, and am greatful for all those who made it amazing!!
Oh and one more thing, by far the best present I received... I'm going to be an uncle to Sara and Eric's lil' baby girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lots of love,
Matt
After dinner, Kate, Lara, and myself took a 1984 Toyota Tercel (with 274,000 miles on it, a backseat made of plywood type material, sticky doors, and a drivers door that doesn't unlock {as we soon found out}) to LAS VEGAS, NV. We were hoping to get out of the cold and windy weather of Green River UT, and head to the warmth of Las Vegas. hmm... well, it was cold and windy there too! But it sure was fun! I met up with my friend from CT who moved to Vegas 5 months ago, and we had some fun on the Strip! I can proudly say I did not gamble tho!!! I'll post the picture album from facebook as a link below, but between the red rocks hike, the nights out on the strip, and the hanging out with some good friends, my best memory will be the ride home! What was supposed to be a 6 hour ride, took 9.5 hours! Apparently people from UT and NV do NOT know how to drive in the snow! It was only a few inches, but the wind was blowing hard and it was COLD COLD COLD out! Travelling as slow as 5 mph at times, "Phyllis" was a champ. We powered through blizzard passing newer cars and SUVs with ease! Maybe it was my superb New England driving coming out, or maybe it was "Phyllis" and a lil luck... we will never know the truth! All's that matters is that we made it out, safe and sound, and with some pretty hilarious stories!!!
My birthday was truly amazing as well! Like I said before, it is my first one I have spent away from home. I really wasn't expecting much of anything, but what I got was shocking! Working at the EpiCenter in the morning, Adam and I left to go to the Medical Center to help out for a few hours. After 5 hours of tediously boring filing medical records, we left to go back to the EpiCenter. On my arrival was a surprise birthday party, with cupcakes that had trick candles on them, balloons, streamers, and noise/streamer poppers (which taste like gunpowder by the way)!!! It was more than I ever anticipated, especially from people I literally met 3 weeks before! The party continued back to the house where later that night I was surprised again with two apple pies (my favorite!), and more wonderful singing... it had to be the 3rd or 4th time I was sang to that day! I loved it!!! Finally, my birthday ended with a trip to Ray's Tavern (the only watering hole in Green River). Ray's serves food, and only beer.. and it's Utah beer (which has to be under 3.2% alc by vol.)... damn Utah laws. Nonetheless, we had fun! (as we always do). We closed down Ray's (at 8:30 or 9:00 - yea, everything closes really early around here), but the party continued at Jack's house (an EpiCenter employee), probably until 2:00am. I will truly never forget this birthday, and am greatful for all those who made it amazing!!
Oh and one more thing, by far the best present I received... I'm going to be an uncle to Sara and Eric's lil' baby girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lots of love,
Matt
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Arches National Park
Today, we went to Arches National Park, just outside Moab, UT. Well known for it's natural beauty, it was truly amazing. We attempted to complete a 7 mile circular hike around Devil's Garden, but we decided to turn around after exploring about 5 miles of "off-shoots" of the main trail. The landscape was some of the coolest and most inspiring I've ever seen. I took a boat-load of pics and put them online already... so the link to that is below!!!
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