For Immediate Release: October 26, 2007
For More Information Contact: Mel Lloyd at (970) 244-3097

Local firefighters to teach at New York Fire Academy

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Two local Bureau of Land Management firefighters headed to Long Island this week to instruct at the New York Wildfire and Incident Management Academy.  Clay Fowler and Tim Foley, both from Grand Junction and employees with the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit, will be teaching East Coast firefighters through November 13, 2007, a number of firefighting techniques and incident management methods such as those being used to fight the current wildfires in southern California. 

“In 1995 the East Coast had a series of major wildfires,” Fowler said.  “The academy started as a result of those events.  An increased emphasis on all-risk emergency management began after September 11.” 

Students come from federal, state, and local fire organizations including some from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).  Learning from others through their on-the-ground experience, students go home with better knowledge of how to work together in the event of a major emergency. 

“FDNY used to consider itself a stand-alone organization that would never require outside assistance,” Foley said.  “This changed after the 9-11 attacks.  Now they are very active in working with other agencies.  This paid off when they were able to send personnel to assist in the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort.” 

This will be Foley’s fourth year as an instructor at the New York Fire Academy, and Fowler’s first.  For more information about the Interagency Fire Program, go to www.nifc.gov or contact Mel Lloyd at (970) 244-3097.

-BLM-