July 14th 2023.
The Alabama on-site fire academy is the result of an incredible collaboration between the US Forest Service and several HBCUs. Established in 1993, this alliance has provided students with valuable employment opportunities and has trained two-thirds of the Black foresters in the Forest Service, according to Stephanie Love, the USDA Forest Service’s national diversity student programs manager, an Alabama A&M alum, and the first FireDawgs squad member.
As the effects of global climate change continue to increase the wildfire season in the US, the need to recruit, especially among minorities, has become more pressing. To address this underrepresentation and to equip students with the appropriate credentials to fight forest fires, the academy has created an apprenticeship program that has 20 students from HBCUs participating in instructor-supervised prescribed burns.
Love spoke about the mission of the program. “The four HBCUs have some of the top agricultural programs at HBCUs in the nation,” said Love. “It makes sense to align our efforts and move together in the same direction. We’re trying to create a pipeline of students who are pursuing natural resources education, forestry, and fire.”
Data collected by the Forest Service shows that the employee roster of wildfire responders, which is approximately 13,000, has seen a 20% increase in diversity. However, Fire personnel identifying as Black remains at 1.3%, with Black women constituting approximately 0.5% of employees.
Students have expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to meet and interact with someone who is an HBCU alumnus and seeing a team of workers that look similar to them. Bradley Massey, a junior president of the forestry club at Alabama A&M, discussed how his school has helped to pique his interest in the firefighting and forestry industry. “I feel like it has helped me a lot in my career now,” said Massey of the FireDawgs program.
Retention is one of the main challenges associated with diversifying the firefighting and forestry industry. To help increase the number of students in this field, the Forest Service and HBCUs have established mentorships, scholarships, and internships. Love believes that this initiative will help improve diversity in the industry and provide more opportunities for students.
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