MCHENRY — More than 300 people took part in last week’s annual Mid-Atlantic Wildfire Training Academy at Garrett College.
The academy is sponsored by the Middle-Atlantic Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact. The compact comprises seven states — Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Delaware, Ohio, New Jersey and Pennsylvania — as well as the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Chip Broadwater, a Garrett County native who recently moved from instructor to academy coordinator, said academy students receive training that’s hard to replicate at the statewide level.
“The biggest value is we bring instructors from other states with specialized knowledge needed for more advanced classes,” said Broadwater. “It’s hard for some of the smaller states to get that level of training on their own. The instructors we bring here really deliver high-quality instruction.”
Garrett College has hosted the academy eight of the last nine years, with the exception being when it was canceled due to COVID in 2020.
“They love coming here and they’re a great group to work with,” said Julie Yoder, Garrett College’s dean of continuing education and workforce development. “Hosting a weeklong event of this size is a lot of work, but it also allows us to showcase the college’s assets and resources. Everyone enjoys having this group on campus.”
Broadwater said one of the main reasons the academy returns to GC every year is “the college staff itself.”
“They’re friendly and they really want us here,” said Broadwater. “Julie and her staff, and everyone else on staff from security to facilities to custodians, are so helpful. It’s nice to be appreciated.”
The academy consisted of 231 registered students and approximately 60 academy instructors and staff. It was supported by the college’s Community Education and Workforce Development staff as well as security, information technology, facilities, residence life and food services staff.
In addition to onsite courses at the college, there were two aviation courses that took place — one online and one at Coyle Airfield in New Jersey.
The compact’s primary goals are assisting in fire suppression between the states, working together in developing fire prevention programs, and combining resources to promote quality fire-suppression training.
The weeklong academy also included the annual silent and live auctions, with proceeds going to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. Over $11,000 was raised this year for the foundation, which supports injured firefighters and the families of deceased firefighters.