Twenty-four Rookie Firefighters spent four days inside a classroom preparing for the physical requirements of being a Wildland Firefighter before going out into the field.
The Osage Nation’s Wildland Fire Rookie School took place Oct. 14-18 at the Osage Casino Hotel in Pawhuska. The rookies were taught about different types of fuel and how they burn, how weather plays a big factor in fires, and how the terrain of the land determines fire behavior.
They learned how to bring the fire down and the science of fire, equipment, firefighting techniques, safety procedures, survival skills, teamwork and problem-solving. They spent their last day in the field at the location of where a 450-acre fire near Barnsdall had been recently contained.
With a hands-on experience, they learned various ways to stop an out-of-control fire, such as learning to bone pile, making a handline with tools and leaf blowers, and they learned how to deploy and use a fire shelter in less than 90 seconds. They also had the chance to eat MRE lunches and have a real firefighting experience.
After completing the class, the rookies became red card certified firefighters and have several options they can take such as an AD (Administratively Determined) with ON Wildland Fire, going into forestry service, working for BLM (Bureau of Land Management), including volunteering with volunteer fire departments.
According to OKCounties.org, Osage County lists 49 fire departments, with 16 listed as volunteer and 15 listed as rural fire departments. The Osage Nation’s Wildland Fire Management Department is not listed. However, the Nation’s Wildland Fire Department is responsible for approximately 200,000 acres of trust/restricted lands scattered in a checkerboard formation lying inside 1,470,559 acres that make up the Osage County/Osage Nation Reservation, according to their website.
In 2023, the Nation’s Wildland Fire Management Department responded to 89 fires, covering a total of 96,737 acres. ON Wildland Fire regularly assists federal, tribal, and non-tribal fire departments in containing fires across the county, state and country. They continually coordinate with 52 volunteer fire departments and the city departments of Hominy, Pawhuska and Skiatook.
They received a Congressional Commendation in 2023 for their consistent valor and dedication to keeping communities safe.
For more information about the Nation’s Wildland Fire Management Department, call (918) 287-9767 or email them at Wildlandfire@osagenation-nsn.gov.