Video Transcript: Package 4
JAROD: While the conditions may seem normal, firefighter Jonathan Bloom warns that dry weather and high winds are creating the perfect storm for wildfires to spread rapidly across the Northeast.
BLOOM: “So I think that our climate right now is just perfect for these fires to start.”
JAROD: Despite wildfires not being a common issue for Central New York Firefighters, they must still pass a 12-hour wildfire class learning how to quickly combat a wildland fire.
JAROD: The Manlius Fire Department is stocked with wildfire containment suits, made of a lighter cotton fabric. They also have a pump truck called “Mini-One.” The vehicle has a water pump on the back and can go off-road, making it easier to extinguish brush fires.
JAROD: While Central New York is not a hotspot for wildfires, they’re no strangers to them either. The most recent large wildfire was in 2016 in Kirkville where over a hundred acres of land were burnt in a very short amount of time. Even though Manlius Fire Department doesn’t deal with wildfires on a daily basis, doesn’t mean they aren’t ready to help out at a moment’s notice.”
Carnie: “It’s very important for us to all work together, to be able to just have that ability to coordinate, to be able to pull different resources from where they need to mitigate the situation.”
JAROD: Destructive fires can require hundreds of firefighters, often leaving every day responsibilities to fall by the wayside.
CARNIE: “If we’re on this wildland fire and everyone else is on this wildland fire, then you know you’re not gonna have the resources that you might need to be able to deploy to other emergencies, as quickly or as efficiently.”
JAROD: With the possibility of limited resources stretched across multiple fires, the Manlius Fire Department emphasizes the importance of public awareness and prevention to reduce the risk of future wildfires.
BLOOM: “People should know that 95 percent of wildfires are man-made. So it’s just really important for the public to know that we need to prevent these before they happen so that none of us get injured and nobody else from the public gets injured from the fire itself.”
Jarod Struminger, NCC News
MANLIUS N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – A wildfire near the New York–New Jersey border has already claimed one life and injured another. As dry weather and high winds increase the risk of wildfires across the Northeast, the Manlius Fire Department is taking steps to be prepared for anything.
“Right now, our climate is just perfect for these fires to start,” said Jonathan Bloom, a firefighter with the department. He warns that dry conditions and shifting winds are creating ideal conditions for fires to spread quickly.
While wildfires are not a common issue in Central New York, firefighters are still required to complete a 12-hour training course to handle wild land fires effectively. The Manlius Fire Department is stocked with wildfire containment suits made of lighter cotton fabric for safety, and it’s equipped with a pump truck, “Mini-One,” that can travel off-road with a water pump on the back, making it easier to access and extinguish brush fires.
The region has seen its share of large fires before, including a significant wildfire in 2016 that burned more than 100 acres in nearby Kirkville. Although the department doesn’t handle wildfires daily, firefighter Cara Carnie says their team is prepared to help wherever needed.
“It’s very important for us to work together and have that ability to coordinate, pulling resources to where they’re needed to manage the situation,” said Carnie. However, she noted that wildfires can require hundreds of firefighters, stretching resources and slowing the response to other emergencies.
With limited resources, the department emphasizes the importance of public awareness to help prevent fires before they start.
“People should know that 95% of wildfires are man-made,” said Bloom. “It’s really important for the public to understand that we need to prevent these before they happen so that none of us get injured, and nobody from the public gets hurt by the fire.”