Orcas Island Fire and Rescue hosted a Wildland Firefighter training event at Camp Orkila over the weekend.The training was performed in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, OIFR and Team Rubicon, a disaster response team primarily comprised of military veterans.

Training began Friday, April 15 with a pack test requiring trainees to traverse an uneven landscape hauling 45 pounds, for three miles, in less than 45 minutes. The task is made especially more difficult due to the fact that the trainees are not allowed to run; at least one foot must be on the ground at all times. Lasting three days, the trainees were subjected to rigorous physical training and hours of in-class instruction.

“It was a great success,” said acting Fire Chief Scott Williams said at the regular OIFR commissioners meeting on Monday, April 18.

“I am pretty happy with the outcome,” said R.J. Myers, OIFR firefighter and island point of contact for the training.