Meade County FireWise Program
"Hire a Veteran Initiative"
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"Hire a Veteran, train a Veteran, and you will help a Veteran transition back into civilian society"
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Veterans Looking for Career Opportunities
"Estimated to be over 850,000 unemployed Veterans in the US"
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Greetings!
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) leadership did something many governmental agencies fear to attempt or fail to accomplish. They looked at a long standing program (FireWise) and initiated a new idea and approach to accomplish an end goal; safer communities via fire mitigation efforts and education.
Change, fear and failure are three words which stifle many great ideas/opportunities from ever launching. Fortunately, this flawed management philosophy was ignored when BLM leadership and the Meade County Commission decided to partner on a new venture: 'Hire a Veteran' to work under the Meade County FireWise Program.
Currently in full operation with BLM funding, guidance and support - our FireWise Veterans have proven the programs' goals a success. Well received and reinforced by community participation; multiple fire mitigation projects have been completed by our Veterans. The project timeline continues to be booked with vested land owners who understand the benefits offered by the program. Additionally, Meade County citizens are thankful to have the opportunity to assist in a program which supports Veterans in a transition from military service to a civilian life.
All program participants contribute a "cost share" back to the FireWise program in support of our Veteran initiative. These dollars, in conjunction with BLM funding and the management oversite by the county - assist in keeping the program active in our community.
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Meade County and the BLM
Partner on Veteran Initiative
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BLM Officials conduct onsite visit to Vet FireWise Project
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Meade County's "Veteran in the Woods" initiative is funded by the BLM and falls under Meade County's current Firewise program. The primary goal of this Community Wildfire Protection effort is to reduce the risk from wildfire to life, property, and critical infrastructure.
Veterans are hired and trained to facilitate this effort by working with private landowners on the education and implementation of fire/fuel mitigation efforts. The primary scope of work finds veterans being trained on cutting, thinning, and removing trees on private land.
Veterans are also trained on other job skills with the end goal seeing them find full-time employment in a career field of their choice.
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Boulder Canyon Fire Assessment
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 | FireWise Veteran interact with citizens on
fire mitigation practices
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The Boulder Canyon Fire Assessment was an opportunity to work with Firefighters and officials from the Black Hills National Forest, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), South Dakota Wildland Fire Division, and Sturgis Volunteer Department, and the Fire Safe Council worked in the Boulder Canyon subdivision to engage and educate landowners about defensible space while providing suggestions on individual properties. We were introduced to the Fire Hazard Severity Form which gave us a standardized guidlines to determine the level of wildfire risk and gave us the avenue to discuss key points with property owners. This also gave us the means to educate them on potential threats of existing conditions.
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BLM Officials Onsite Visit with Land Owner
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BLM Officials and FireWise Veterans after action a competed FireWise Project
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BLM makes a big visit with landowners and Meade county firewise, about the job completions and how to improve further on home owners side of firewise programs.
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James Adams - Veteran
Meade County Fire Mitigation Specialist
James will be leaving the program this month to further his education toward his career goal.
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Keith Weyriech - Veteran
Meade County Fire Mitigation Specialist
New Hire in June
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 Travis Ugland - Veteran Meade County Fire Mitigation Coordinator |
 Keith Bryan - Veteran Meade County Fire Mitigation Specialist
New Hire in August Keith moved his family from Missouri to seek this opportunity. |
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Program Graduate
Veteran - Shawn Dempsey joined the Firewise Program in January of 2013. Shawn successfully found full-time employment with Meade County in June.
The BLM funded "Veteran Initiative" afforded Shawn the opportunity to support himself - while gaining skills and training to assist him with his career goals.
Good luck on your new endeavors and thanks for your service!
Shawn previously deployed to Afghanistan with the 842nd Engineering Company.
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Black Hills Interagency Fire School
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Meade County FireWise Vets, Shawn, Travis and James - attend week-long Fire School Training at Boy Scout Camp near Custer, SD
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The mission of the Black Hills Interagency Guard School is to provide all personnel attending this training with the knowledge and skill base to become a safe, successful firefighter for their home unit. Accomplished with a realistic "fire camp" environment, hands-on field exercises, and classroom instruction from a cadre experienced personnel with diverse backgrounds.
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S-212 Wildland Fire Chain Saws Class By BLM
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Wildland Fire Chain Saws, S-212, is an instructor-led course intended to be presented at the local level. The course lessons provide introduction to the function, maintenance and use of internal combustion engine powered chain saws, and their tactical wildland fire application. Field exercises support entry level training for firefighters with little or no previous experience in operating a chain saw, providing hands-on cutting experience in surroundings similar to fireline situations.
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The group after a hard days work - Shawn Dempsey, James Adams and Travis Ugland
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Firewood stack - good utilization of downed timber
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Office time - public education efforts by mailing letters about the program to targeted communities. Hundreds of mailings have yielded multiple projects and home owner onsite visits about the benefits of the FireWise program.
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Benefits of Hiring a Veteran
Leadership
The military trains people to accept and discharge responsibility for other people, for activities, for resources and for one's own behavior. This training includes setting an example, giving carefully considered direction, inspiring leadership capabilities in others and continually motivating others.
Ability to Work as a Team Member and as a Team Leader
Almost all military activity is performed with the assistance, coordination and awareness of other persons or other units. Many military personnel serve as team leaders where they have analyzed situations and options, made appropriate decisions, given directions, followed through with a viable plan and accepted responsibility for the outcome.
Ability to Work under Pressure and Meet Deadlines
One characteristic of military service is that service members must perform. They must do their job, do it right the first time and do it in a timely manner. They are continuously setting priorities, meeting schedules and accomplishing their missions.
Ability to Give and Follow Direction
Service members know how to work under supervision and can relate and respond favorably to others. They understand accountability for their actions and for their subordinates' actions. They have learned to respect and accept legitimate authority.
Drug-free
With an honorable discharge, service members are basically certified drug-free.
Security Clearances
Many military personnel have achieved some level of security clearance. This clearance can, at least, demonstrate that an individual is recognized as a trustworthy person.
Planning and Organization
Most military operations require thorough planning and workload management. Carefully considered objectives, strengths and limitations of other people, resources, time schedules, supplies, logistics and various other factors are always considered.
Emphasis on Safety
Service members understand the considerable cost in lives, property and objectives when safety is ignored. Both the control and the emphasis on safety are valued in the civilian work force.
Flexibility and Adaptability
Service members have learned to be flexible and can adapt to meet the constantly changing needs of any situation and mission.
Education
Most service members have at least a General Education Development (GED) and the majority of them have high school diplomas. Nearly 30 percent have a college degree; and many have attended college to further their education.
VOW to Hire Heroes Act 2011
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Demographics of Homeless Veterans
- 13% of the homeless adult population are veterans
- 20% of the male homeless population are veterans
- 68% reside in principal cities
- 32% reside in suburban/rural areas
- 51% of individual homeless veterans have disabilities
- 50% have serious mental illness
- 70% have substance abuse problems
- 51% are white males, compared to 38% of non-veterans
- 50% are age 51 or older, compared to 19% non-veterans
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Some Hard Facts which require Public Support and Education
- 22 military suicides every day
- Over 8,000 deaths per year
- 30% of Post 911 Veterans report they have contemplated suicide
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 Program Donations:
- RDO Equipment - John Deere Gator
- Meade County - Ford Explorer / Flatbed Trailer
- Ernest & Kimberly Rupp - $100
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Meade County Firewise
August Newsletter
2013
Meade County, SD
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- Offer veterans short-term employment (4-6 months) which leads to full-time career opportunities.
- Train veterans in various skill-sets based on career path.
- Seek community support and involvement for Firewise program.
- Solicit private donations to support program efforts.
- Graduate veterans to full-time employment and repeat the effort with unemployed veterans.
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Completed Training Initiatives
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MSHA Training
- Mandatory Safety & Health Standards
- Transportation Controls & Communication Systems
- Firefighting
- Ground Conditions & Control
- Traffic Patterns & Control
- Working in Areas of High Walls
- Water Hazards, Pit & Spoil Piles
- First Aid
- Electrical Hazards
- Accident Prevention
- Health
- Mobile Equipment Hazards
- Maintenance & Repair; Material Handling; Working Around Moving Objects
- Hazard Communications
- Machine Guarding
- Review of Mine Safety Act
Emergency Management - FEMA
- IS-00100.b Introduction to Incident Command System ICS-100
- IS-00200.b ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incident, ICS-200
- IS-00700.a National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Introduction
- IS-00120.a An Introduction to Exercises
- IS-00800.b National Response Framework, An Introduction
- IS-00701.a NIMS Multiagency Coordination Systems (MACS)
- IS-00130 Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning
- IS-00634 Introduction to FEMA's Public Assistance Program
- IS-00240.a Leadership and Influence
- IS - 00130 Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning
GIS Training Class
- GIS, Geographic Information Systems, is a technology in which data in the form of points, lines, and polygons are connected to databases providing information about a geographical area. GIS is a digital map containing several layers of data, each layer containing specific information within the digital map.
- Training on mapping projects and using GPS coordinates.
CPR
- CPR class instructed by Meade County Jail Medical Staff
- CPR Certification obtained
S-212 Wildland Fire Chains Saws Class
- Classroom and practical
- Certified
RT 130 Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training
Black Hills Interagency Guard School
- S-130, S-190, S-134, S-133, L-180, and I-100
ATV and UTV Safety Training
Resume Writing and Job Interview Skills
Successfully passed and received eligible certifications in all training classes
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VET Project #4 - 12- Completed
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Two acres around the home were treated limit a potential fire reaching up the canyons chutes behind the house.
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Two acres treated that included removal of around 200 ponderosa pine trees.
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Logs piled for homeowner use |
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Two acres were treated which included the removal of around 150 ponderosa pine trees.
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Managed a 20-foot spacing around the two acre property.
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Conducted fuels management within three acres of the home - to include falling bug kill trees.
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Managed three acres around the residence along the ridge top.
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On the northern end of the property did a 30 foot spacing in a half acre area. Land owner wants to do it in small portions so he can haul off all the debris.
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Demonstrating safe work practices. We are in fact injury free!
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Future Projects for FireWise Program
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All of these projects were secured by our targeted mailings to property owners in Meade County. Onsite visits with property owners have been conducted with a mutual understanding of program benefits and anticipated results.
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This new home owner was shocked by the shear numbers of trees on his property. Unable to maintain the treat from fire - he decided to call the FireWise Veterans for assistance.
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The primary goal of this Community Wildfire Protection Plan is to reduce the risk from wildfire to life, property, and critical infrastructure. The Wildland Urban-Interface, (WUI), is a set of conditions that exist when man-made fuels (e.g. structures and other human development) meets or intermingles with natural vegetative fuels. The U.S. Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Interior identified a list of communities at risk from wildfire and placed them in the Federal Register. Communities are located in the WUI and are in the vicinity of federal lands and have been identified as being at high risk from wildfire.
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The Department of Labor released its unemployment statistics for July, and while the nationwide numbers were encouraging, the same could not be said for post-9/11 veterans. Ending months of progress, the unemployment rate for the nation's most recent vets jumped to 7.7%, up from June's 7.2%. The figure puts the group slightly above the national average of 7.4%, according to Military Times.
Office: 605.720.1625 / email: jderr@meadecounty.org
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