"Hire a Veteran, train a Veteran, and you will help a Veteran transition back into civilian society"
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Greetings!
The Meade County Firewise Program has evolved from conducting mitigation efforts via private contractors hired by vested landowners; to our veteran hire intiative. Community involvement and ownership in the Meade County Firewise Program has significantly spiked. The catalyst for this increased landowner participation is solely due to hiring veterans who implement a fire mitigation plan with private landowners.
The Meade County / Bureau of Land Management "Veteran in the Woods" initiative has been in operation since December of 2012. Thirteen veterans have been employed under this pilot program with nine of them successfully transitioned into full-time employment and one into college via veteran benefits.
While employed (mentored) under this program, the veterans are afforded multiple opportunities to train in wildland fire skills - in addition to their respective career fields of interest. Focused efforts find them educated on resume writing and career interview techniques. Additionally, they are given one-on-one time with veteran service resources to ensure they are fully educated on all veteran programs; to include funding/employment opportunities.
The Meade County FireWise program is funded, assisted and guided by Travis Lipp, Fire Management Specialist out of the Belle Fourche, SD - BLM Field Office.
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SD Congresswomen - Kristi Noem
Site Visit to
Meade County FireWise Project
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In a continuing effort to educate and get the word out about the benefits of the program, the FireWise program invited Congresswoman Kristi Noem out to an on-site visit. It is imperative that policymakers prioritize the continuation of funding the program, which provides so many benefits to the community - both the veterans it employs and the landowners whose properties are treated.
Congresswoman Noem is briefed on the Meade County FireWise program by Travis Ugland, FireWise Veteran - Michael Dannenberg, BLM and Jerry Derr, Meade County Commission Office.
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Current Firewise Veterans
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 Travis Ugland - Veteran Meade County Fire Mitigation Coordinator |
David Kegler - Veteran
Meade County Fire Mitigation Specialist
New Hire November 2014
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Loren Timmer - Veteran
Meade County Fire Mitigation Specialist
New Hire October 2014
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Veteran Jackalyn Dillick joined the Firewise Program in August of 2014. Jackalyn successfully found full-time employment in December 2014.
The BLM funded "Veteran Initiative" afforded Jackalyn the opportunity to support herself - while gaining skills and training to assist her with her career goals.
Good luck on your new endeavors and thanks for your service!
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Veteran Cliff Dower joined the Firewise Program in October of 2014. Cliff successfully found full-time employment in December 2014.
The BLM funded "Veteran Initiative" afforded Cliff 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!
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Veteran Jake Ford joined the Firewise Program in February of 2014. Jake successfully found full-time employment in August 2014.
The BLM funded "Veteran Initiative" afforded Jake the opportunity to support himself - while gaining skills and training to assist him with his career goals.
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Veteran Mark Schild joined the Firewise Program in March of 2014. Mark successfully found full-time employment in August 2014.
The BLM funded "Veteran Initiative" afforded Mark the opportunity to support himself - while gaining skills and training to assist him with his career goals.
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Veteran Aaron Thomas joined the Firewise Program in August of 2013. Aaron successfully found full-time employment in March 2014.
The BLM funded "Veteran Initiative" afforded Aaron the opportunity to support himself - while gaining skills and training to assist him with his career goals.
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Veteran Keith Bryan joined the Firewise Program in July of 2013. Keith successfully found full-time employment in February 2014.
The BLM funded "Veteran Initiative" afforded Keith the opportunity to support himself - while gaining skills and training to assist him with his career goals.
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Veteran Keith Weyrich joined the Firewise Program in June of 2013. Keith successfully found full-time employment in October 2013.
The BLM funded "Veteran Initiative" afforded Keith the opportunity to support himself - while gaining skills and training to assist him with his career goals.
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Veteran James Adams joined the Firewise Program in January of 2013. James successfully enrolled in college in August 2013.
The BLM funded "Veteran Initiative" afforded James the opportunity to support himself - while gaining skills and training to assist him with his career goals.
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Veteran Shawn Dempsey joined the Firewise Program in January of 2013. Shawn successfully found full-time employment in April 2013 as a Meade County Deputy Sheriff.
The BLM funded "Veteran Initiative" afforded Shawn the opportunity to support himself - while gaining skills and training to assist him with his career goals.
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Veteran Daniel Campbell joined the Firewise Program in December of 2012. Dan successfully found full-time employment in April 2013.
The BLM funded "Veteran Initiative" afforded Dan the opportunity to support himself - while gaining skills and training to assist him with his career goals.
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This property had nearly 78 trees severly damaged in the Atlas storm. All we were able to remove safely thinning the forest around the home.
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This property had very densely spaced trees and lots of downed and damaged trees from the Atlas storm. Logs are being used for firewood, sale, and erosion resistance. All brush piles are being burned by the homeowner at a later date.
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9 Projects for FireWise Program are booked and Scheduled
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"It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."
-- Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
 This program has now allowed 13 veterans to explore job opportunities - but it has gone much deeper. As a veteran, there are things seen, done, and felt during times of war and even times of peace that could haunt anyone to death. Emotions vary wildly, from the joy and thankfulness felt after completing a difficult mission to the sorrow and sadness of losing fellow soldiers. One of the things that made it bearable was knowing that you had brothers and sisters in arms going through and dealing with the same situations.
To many of us, the program is more than just a job placement program or a temporary logging job. Together as a group we have been able to build that same comradery we once felt while we served. It is through this common bond that we are able to share our hurts and pains which allows us to grow.
Loren Timmer (pictured right) wanted to share his thoughts on his time with the program.
"It brings peace to mind to know going to work isn't really going to work. It's about the love we carry deeply as brothers and sisters in arms. It's about knowing the connections made through this program such as relationships, contacts, and support from other co-workers - as well as outside sources that makes this program not a job, but a sanctuary. That's how I feel..."
Loren Timmer - FireWise Veteran
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com·rad·ery
NOUN
\ˈkäm-ˌra-d(ə-)rē, -rə-drē, -ˌrā-d(ə-)rē\
It's an unbreakable trust and kinship forged as soldiers push their brains and bodies to the limits each day, together, in an environment that won't forgive them should one mess up. One guy keeps the next guy going, to keep all the brothers from falling.
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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
- IS - 00242.a Effective Communication
- 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.
- A Gentle Introduction to GIS
- The course covered the basic concepts of GIS as well as introduced QGIS, an open-source free program that is an inexpensive alternative for mapping.
- 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
- Mountain Pine Beetle survey and marking
- Infested tree identification and common misleading signs
- Resume Writing and Job Interview Skills
- South Dakota Public Assurance Allience and SDML Workers Compensation Fund
- 4-Hour Defensive Driving Course - The main objective of this course is to save lives by instructing participants in how to avoid costly collisions and injuries.
- Harassment Prevention - Training all employees to understand, prevent and deal with workplace discrimination and harassment is nothing less than essential. Instead of allowing inapropriate conduct to lower employee morale and productivity, organizations should foster a positive and respectful work enviroment that will help all employees thrive. This course is designed to help your entity accomplish just that.
Successfully passed and received eligible certifications in all training classes
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Public Education and Outreach
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Meade County FireWise vets teamed up with the Mountain Pine Beetle mitigation program during the Central States Fair using a booth that promoted and informed the public on both programs. We were able to interact with hundreds of people educating them on dangers of wildland fire and ways to protect themselves and their homes against wildfire.
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Recently Completed Training
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All members of FireWise are required to attain the S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaw Course Certification prior to felling trees. This four day course consists of both classroom and practical hands on training followed by the final certification where the trainees fall trees under close supervision.
Not just operation, but also service and maintenance are covered in great detail. Students become very familiar with the safe use and operation of their chainsaw.
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Studying for the Commercial Driver's License
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Jackalyn studying the South Dakota Commercial Drivers License Manual with ambitions of finding a career in driving whether it be local or over the road. She has compiled over six years of experience driving five ton tractor trailer and up vehicles while serving with Michigan and South Dakota National Guard.
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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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Program Donations:
- RDO Equipment - John Deere Gator
- Meade County - Ford Explorer
- Meade County - Flatbed Trailer
- Meade County - Ford F150
- Napa Auto Parts - Reciever Hitch for Ford F-150
- Meade County covered the 2013 Workers' Compensation expenses: $16,000
- Ernest & Kimberly Rupp - $100
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