Kentucky Division of Forestry hosting week-long training event for wildland firefighters involved with heavy machinery

Firefighters from the southeast United States are undergoing training in Pineville this week to learn how to safely operate heavy machinery.

The Southern Area Advanced Mountain Equipment Academy is meant to help operators of machines like bulldozers or backhoes navigate mountainous, uneven terrain - similar to that in the hills of eastern Kentucky. It’s being hosted by the Kentucky Department of Forestry.

They’ll be working with 18 firefighters mostly from the southeast United States, with some coming from as far as Arizona.

Lead instructor Bart Rye says it will help wildland firefighters prevent forest fires, and restore the land to be safer.

“We're just adding tools to their toolbox, to be better land managers using fire as a tool,” Rye said. “And to be better firefighters and safer firefighters, to have that tool and ultimately help protect these communities.”

Training includes working on clearing roads, learning how to navigate through logging sites in different terrain and what to do in case of an emergency.

Michael Froelich of the Division of Forestry says it’s meant to be much more interactive than other training sessions.

“This is really trying to get the students in the seat, not much in the classroom,” Froelich said. “Get them on a seat, get them on the mountain here, and get them to understand the terrain, the difference in terrain and be more involved in the training.”

The event continues through the end of this week. Academy and state officials say they expect to put on the event regularly.

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