[Music] so for about the last 20 years of my
so for about the last 20 years of my
so for about the last 20 years of my career I’ve had the opportunity to work
career I’ve had the opportunity to work
career I’ve had the opportunity to work on some of the most consequential
on some of the most consequential
on some of the most consequential projects and issues that face our region
projects and issues that face our region
projects and issues that face our region our state and even our nation but really
our state and even our nation but really
our state and even our nation but really over the last ten years I’ve had the
over the last ten years I’ve had the
over the last ten years I’ve had the distinct honor and privilege to work
distinct honor and privilege to work
distinct honor and privilege to work alongside our wildland firefighters
alongside our wildland firefighters
alongside our wildland firefighters addressing issues of Community Safety
addressing issues of Community Safety
addressing issues of Community Safety and resilience attack effectiveness and
and resilience attack effectiveness and
and resilience attack effectiveness and firefighter health and safety during
firefighter health and safety during
firefighter health and safety during that decade I came across a startling
that decade I came across a startling
that decade I came across a startling realization now it’s not some new tool
realization now it’s not some new tool
realization now it’s not some new tool to improve attack effectiveness or help
to improve attack effectiveness or help
to improve attack effectiveness or help save lives the realization I had was
save lives the realization I had was
save lives the realization I had was nothing at all
nothing at all
nothing at all and what I mean by that is that I found
and what I mean by that is that I found
and what I mean by that is that I found out that over the years as we started
out that over the years as we started
out that over the years as we started asking questions as we started doing our
asking questions as we started doing our
asking questions as we started doing our research there were so many things that
research there were so many things that
research there were so many things that haven’t been addressed effectively
haven’t been addressed effectively
haven’t been addressed effectively wildland firefighting is easily a
wildland firefighting is easily a
wildland firefighting is easily a generation behind that of high-rise
generation behind that of high-rise
generation behind that of high-rise structure and urban firefighting now
structure and urban firefighting now
structure and urban firefighting now this is something that took me a long
this is something that took me a long
this is something that took me a long time to realize and really get a handle
time to realize and really get a handle
time to realize and really get a handle on but let me tell you the firefighters
on but let me tell you the firefighters
on but let me tell you the firefighters they realize this from day one so let me
they realize this from day one so let me
they realize this from day one so let me take you back in time a little bit and
take you back in time a little bit and
take you back in time a little bit and introduce you to Ed Pulaski in 1911 he
introduce you to Ed Pulaski in 1911 he
introduce you to Ed Pulaski in 1911 he adopted a new tool for wildland
adopted a new tool for wildland
adopted a new tool for wildland firefighting that tool today bears his
firefighting that tool today bears his
firefighting that tool today bears his name the Pulaski now a hundred years ago
name the Pulaski now a hundred years ago
name the Pulaski now a hundred years ago if you were to look at wildland
if you were to look at wildland
if you were to look at wildland firefighting it’s a fairly rudimentary
firefighting it’s a fairly rudimentary
firefighting it’s a fairly rudimentary process at that time but if you were to
process at that time but if you were to
process at that time but if you were to compare that to say the military at
compare that to say the military at
compare that to say the military at about that same time it’s also a very
about that same time it’s also a very
about that same time it’s also a very different environment than what we see
different environment than what we see
different environment than what we see today in fact if you were to take a
today in fact if you were to take a
today in fact if you were to take a soldier off the battlefield in the early
soldier off the battlefield in the early
soldier off the battlefield in the early 1900s and place them on the battlefield
1900s and place them on the battlefield
1900s and place them on the battlefield today it would be nearly unrecognizable
today it would be nearly unrecognizable
today it would be nearly unrecognizable there would be some similarities right
there would be some similarities right
there would be some similarities right but a lot has
but a lot has
but a lot has – mentally changed if you were to take a
– mentally changed if you were to take a
– mentally changed if you were to take a wildland firefighter from early 1900s
wildland firefighter from early 1900s
wildland firefighter from early 1900s and dropped them on a wildland fire
and dropped them on a wildland fire
and dropped them on a wildland fire today it would be unfortunately
today it would be unfortunately
today it would be unfortunately immediately recognizable now some would
immediately recognizable now some would
immediately recognizable now some would say the industry has shifted right but
say the industry has shifted right but
say the industry has shifted right but the tools are the same a lot of the
the tools are the same a lot of the
the tools are the same a lot of the tactics are the same and yes indeed we
tactics are the same and yes indeed we
tactics are the same and yes indeed we do have new technology we have aircraft
do have new technology we have aircraft
do have new technology we have aircraft we have new things that have never been
we have new things that have never been
we have new things that have never been used before and so some people would say
used before and so some people would say
used before and so some people would say well if it ain’t broke don’t fix it but
well if it ain’t broke don’t fix it but
well if it ain’t broke don’t fix it but what I’m here to talk to you about is
what I’m here to talk to you about is
what I’m here to talk to you about is that it is broken and so let’s go back
that it is broken and so let’s go back
that it is broken and so let’s go back to the 1960s 1970s when our country was
to the 1960s 1970s when our country was
to the 1960s 1970s when our country was facing some really big issues
facing some really big issues
facing some really big issues all right you couldn’t see across the
all right you couldn’t see across the
all right you couldn’t see across the street in Los Angeles rivers were
street in Los Angeles rivers were
street in Los Angeles rivers were literally catching on fire the symbol of
literally catching on fire the symbol of
literally catching on fire the symbol of our nation the bald eagle was going
our nation the bald eagle was going
our nation the bald eagle was going extinct we had places like Love Canal
extinct we had places like Love Canal
extinct we had places like Love Canal emerge as some of the most toxic
emerge as some of the most toxic
emerge as some of the most toxic hazardous sites in the United States but
hazardous sites in the United States but
hazardous sites in the United States but we also landed a person on the moon and
we also landed a person on the moon and
we also landed a person on the moon and so at that time we said these aren’t
so at that time we said these aren’t
so at that time we said these aren’t insurmountable problems we can figure
insurmountable problems we can figure
insurmountable problems we can figure these things out so at about the same
these things out so at about the same
these things out so at about the same time the Nixon administration had
time the Nixon administration had
time the Nixon administration had started a program and a commission to
started a program and a commission to
started a program and a commission to deal with urban firefighting because it
deal with urban firefighting because it
deal with urban firefighting because it was a big problem at the time and so in
was a big problem at the time and so in
was a big problem at the time and so in 1973 they commissioned a report called
1973 they commissioned a report called
1973 they commissioned a report called America burning and that report helped
America burning and that report helped
America burning and that report helped to fundamentally change urban
to fundamentally change urban
to fundamentally change urban firefighting as we know it today it
firefighting as we know it today it
firefighting as we know it today it talked about prevention training and
talked about prevention training and
talked about prevention training and outreach
outreach
outreach it had materials and design issues for
it had materials and design issues for
it had materials and design issues for homes and buildings and it had a
homes and buildings and it had a
homes and buildings and it had a significant focus on research and
significant focus on research and
significant focus on research and education so by 1974 we create the
education so by 1974 we create the
education so by 1974 we create the federal fire prevention and Control Act
federal fire prevention and Control Act
federal fire prevention and Control Act and we have made some remarkable strides
and we have made some remarkable strides
and we have made some remarkable strides and gains in urban firefighting so if
and gains in urban firefighting so if
and gains in urban firefighting so if you compared 1970s to about today we can
you compared 1970s to about today we can
you compared 1970s to about today we can show you that the number of deaths that
show you that the number of deaths that
show you that the number of deaths that occur every year is down by nearly 70
occur every year is down by nearly 70
occur every year is down by nearly 70 percent the property lost has decreased
percent the property lost has decreased
percent the property lost has decreased and these are adjusted numbers
and these are adjusted numbers
and these are adjusted numbers has decreased by nearly half structure
has decreased by nearly half structure
has decreased by nearly half structure fires in the United States have gone
fires in the United States have gone
fires in the United States have gone down by nearly 63 percent and the number
down by nearly 63 percent and the number
down by nearly 63 percent and the number of injuries that we have from structure
of injuries that we have from structure
of injuries that we have from structure and urban fires have decreased by 75%
and urban fires have decreased by 75%
and urban fires have decreased by 75% remarkable gains now to put that a
remarkable gains now to put that a
remarkable gains now to put that a little bit more into perspective though
little bit more into perspective though
little bit more into perspective though at that same time period our population
at that same time period our population
at that same time period our population the United States increased by over a
the United States increased by over a
the United States increased by over a hundred million people Wow
hundred million people Wow
hundred million people Wow I mean that much growth at that time and
I mean that much growth at that time and
I mean that much growth at that time and still we’re able to make those dramatic
still we’re able to make those dramatic
still we’re able to make those dramatic changes in our country phenomenal now
changes in our country phenomenal now
changes in our country phenomenal now let me show you what happened with
let me show you what happened with
let me show you what happened with wildland firefighting in that same time
wildland firefighting in that same time
wildland firefighting in that same time period the fire season from the 1970s to
period the fire season from the 1970s to
period the fire season from the 1970s to today has increased by nearly 50% if you
today has increased by nearly 50% if you
today has increased by nearly 50% if you look at just our federal lands in the
look at just our federal lands in the
look at just our federal lands in the Forest Service and this mirrors the rest
Forest Service and this mirrors the rest
Forest Service and this mirrors the rest of the United States and California the
of the United States and California the
of the United States and California the number of fires over a thousand acres as
number of fires over a thousand acres as
number of fires over a thousand acres as increased by a hundred percent the
increased by a hundred percent the
increased by a hundred percent the number of fires over ten thousand acres
number of fires over ten thousand acres
number of fires over ten thousand acres is increased by two hundred and fifty
is increased by two hundred and fifty
is increased by two hundred and fifty percent and the total number of acres
percent and the total number of acres
percent and the total number of acres burned in the United States has gone
burned in the United States has gone
burned in the United States has gone from roughly three million acres per
from roughly three million acres per
from roughly three million acres per year in the 1970s to well over eight
year in the 1970s to well over eight
year in the 1970s to well over eight million acres today it’s stunning the
million acres today it’s stunning the
million acres today it’s stunning the worst year on record was 2015 where we
worst year on record was 2015 where we
worst year on record was 2015 where we burned over 12 and a half million acres
burned over 12 and a half million acres
burned over 12 and a half million acres in the United States so yeah it is
in the United States so yeah it is
in the United States so yeah it is broken and we need to figure out how to
broken and we need to figure out how to
broken and we need to figure out how to change this industry to provide them
change this industry to provide them
change this industry to provide them with new tools to fight wildland fires
with new tools to fight wildland fires
with new tools to fight wildland fires to put this in perspective 8 million
to put this in perspective 8 million
to put this in perspective 8 million acres is the size of the state of
acres is the size of the state of
acres is the size of the state of Massachusetts that we lose every year in
Massachusetts that we lose every year in
Massachusetts that we lose every year in the United States and a bit of a
the United States and a bit of a
the United States and a bit of a geography lesson anybody know it’s five
geography lesson anybody know it’s five
geography lesson anybody know it’s five states the size of oh come on folks
states the size of oh come on folks
states the size of oh come on folks Delaware alright but it’s also to put it
Delaware alright but it’s also to put it
Delaware alright but it’s also to put it into a local perspective losing about
into a local perspective losing about
into a local perspective losing about 420 cities the size of Temecula I mean
420 cities the size of Temecula I mean
420 cities the size of Temecula I mean that’s what we’re losing every year 95%
that’s what we’re losing every year 95%
that’s what we’re losing every year 95% of those fires nationwide are human
of those fires nationwide are human
of those fires nationwide are human caused events
caused events
caused events not natural events they’re not lightning
not natural events they’re not lightning
not natural events they’re not lightning strikes they’re human caused
strikes they’re human caused
strikes they’re human caused one-in-six damages infrastructure
one-in-six damages infrastructure
one-in-six damages infrastructure transportation and one in ten results in
transportation and one in ten results in
transportation and one in ten results in the loss of a home with roughly 3,000
the loss of a home with roughly 3,000
the loss of a home with roughly 3,000 homes every year being lost to a
homes every year being lost to a
homes every year being lost to a wildland fire it’s not just a West Coast
wildland fire it’s not just a West Coast
wildland fire it’s not just a West Coast issue it’s not just a California issue
issue it’s not just a California issue
issue it’s not just a California issue nationwide we have over two hundred and
nationwide we have over two hundred and
nationwide we have over two hundred and seventy seven thousand square miles of
seventy seven thousand square miles of
seventy seven thousand square miles of what’s called the wildland urban
what’s called the wildland urban
what’s called the wildland urban interface or that really high-risk zone
interface or that really high-risk zone
interface or that really high-risk zone where our urban areas meet the wildland
where our urban areas meet the wildland
where our urban areas meet the wildland right forty five million homes in the
right forty five million homes in the
right forty five million homes in the United States are built in that
United States are built in that
United States are built in that interface in this high-risk area
interface in this high-risk area
interface in this high-risk area Connecticut is number one with the most
Connecticut is number one with the most
Connecticut is number one with the most amount of wildland urban interface but
amount of wildland urban interface but
amount of wildland urban interface but California we win we have more homes in
California we win we have more homes in
California we win we have more homes in that high-risk area than any other state
that high-risk area than any other state
that high-risk area than any other state with roughly 5.1 million homes and
with roughly 5.1 million homes and
with roughly 5.1 million homes and growing that number is going to increase
growing that number is going to increase
growing that number is going to increase because here’s another surprising number
because here’s another surprising number
because here’s another surprising number California has only built about 15
California has only built about 15
California has only built about 15 percent of the land available in that
percent of the land available in that
percent of the land available in that wildland urban interface 15 percent so
wildland urban interface 15 percent so
wildland urban interface 15 percent so we have to wrap our hands around this we
we have to wrap our hands around this we
we have to wrap our hands around this we have to help the fire industry deal with
have to help the fire industry deal with
have to help the fire industry deal with this situation we have to bring them out
this situation we have to bring them out
this situation we have to bring them out of a century-old practice as I’ve worked
of a century-old practice as I’ve worked
of a century-old practice as I’ve worked with them over the years a lot of folks
with them over the years a lot of folks
with them over the years a lot of folks refer to them as an industry of deep
refer to them as an industry of deep
refer to them as an industry of deep tradition unencumbered by progress right
tradition unencumbered by progress right
tradition unencumbered by progress right so the the concept of a wildland fire
so the the concept of a wildland fire
so the the concept of a wildland fire that’s stuff that just burns vegetation
that’s stuff that just burns vegetation
that’s stuff that just burns vegetation or heavy timber chaparral or grasslands
or heavy timber chaparral or grasslands
or heavy timber chaparral or grasslands has vastly changed we don’t see that as
has vastly changed we don’t see that as
has vastly changed we don’t see that as much anymore we see these fires moving
much anymore we see these fires moving
much anymore we see these fires moving into our backyards and when this has
into our backyards and when this has
into our backyards and when this has happened we see fires that bring in
happened we see fires that bring in
happened we see fires that bring in products that burn that we’ve never had
products that burn that we’ve never had
products that burn that we’ve never had historically and we try and wonder as
historically and we try and wonder as
historically and we try and wonder as those firefighters are working out there
those firefighters are working out there
those firefighters are working out there for weeks at a time days at a time 24
for weeks at a time days at a time 24
for weeks at a time days at a time 24 hour shifts what are they being exposed
hour shifts what are they being exposed
hour shifts what are they being exposed to what’s happening to them while they
to what’s happening to them while they
to what’s happening to them while they are doing their job to protect York
are doing their job to protect York
are doing their job to protect York and your lives now structure
and your lives now structure
and your lives now structure firefighters after the Americas burning
firefighters after the Americas burning
firefighters after the Americas burning made some vast changes in protective
made some vast changes in protective
made some vast changes in protective gear and protocols they wear the scbas
gear and protocols they wear the scbas
gear and protocols they wear the scbas the devices that help give them fresh
the devices that help give them fresh
the devices that help give them fresh air and breathing wildland firefighters
air and breathing wildland firefighters
air and breathing wildland firefighters have the equivalent to a bandana why
have the equivalent to a bandana why
have the equivalent to a bandana why because the breathing apparatus only
because the breathing apparatus only
because the breathing apparatus only gives you about 20 to 30 minutes of air
gives you about 20 to 30 minutes of air
gives you about 20 to 30 minutes of air at best it’s heavy its large and it’s
at best it’s heavy its large and it’s
at best it’s heavy its large and it’s cumbersome to use in an environment
cumbersome to use in an environment
cumbersome to use in an environment where you’re working for 8 12 or 24
where you’re working for 8 12 or 24
where you’re working for 8 12 or 24 hours hiking right we don’t have that
hours hiking right we don’t have that
hours hiking right we don’t have that kind of protection and so we started
kind of protection and so we started
kind of protection and so we started asking some basic questions like when
asking some basic questions like when
asking some basic questions like when you’re 200 feet away from a home and a
you’re 200 feet away from a home and a
you’re 200 feet away from a home and a vehicle that’s burning and you’re
vehicle that’s burning and you’re
vehicle that’s burning and you’re fighting wildland fire
fighting wildland fire
fighting wildland fire what are you breathing and stunning to
what are you breathing and stunning to
what are you breathing and stunning to find out that we didn’t know the answer
find out that we didn’t know the answer
find out that we didn’t know the answer to that after a hundred years of
to that after a hundred years of
to that after a hundred years of wildland firefighting we haven’t figured
wildland firefighting we haven’t figured
wildland firefighting we haven’t figured that out really if you go to the
that out really if you go to the
that out really if you go to the Memorial in Sacramento firefighters
Memorial in Sacramento firefighters
Memorial in Sacramento firefighters memorial just outside the Capitol over
memorial just outside the Capitol over
memorial just outside the Capitol over the last several years roughly 90% of
the last several years roughly 90% of
the last several years roughly 90% of the names that have been added to that
the names that have been added to that
the names that have been added to that wall are the result of cancer fatalities
wall are the result of cancer fatalities
wall are the result of cancer fatalities not fatalities on the fire line so
not fatalities on the fire line so
not fatalities on the fire line so something is happening something has
something is happening something has
something is happening something has changed in this industry how do we deal
changed in this industry how do we deal
changed in this industry how do we deal with it so in 2014 I was invited by Cal
with it so in 2014 I was invited by Cal
with it so in 2014 I was invited by Cal Fire local and others to host a workshop
Fire local and others to host a workshop
Fire local and others to host a workshop and this workshop was focused on how do
and this workshop was focused on how do
and this workshop was focused on how do we address this situation how do we
we address this situation how do we
we address this situation how do we create that Blue Ribbon Commission that
create that Blue Ribbon Commission that
create that Blue Ribbon Commission that was done in 1973 by the Nixon
was done in 1973 by the Nixon
was done in 1973 by the Nixon administration so we brought people from
administration so we brought people from
administration so we brought people from all over the country to Sacramento to
all over the country to Sacramento to
all over the country to Sacramento to ask the hard questions how do we move
ask the hard questions how do we move
ask the hard questions how do we move this thing forward and we had several
this thing forward and we had several
this thing forward and we had several days of great conversation and dialogue
days of great conversation and dialogue
days of great conversation and dialogue one of the things that came out of it is
one of the things that came out of it is
one of the things that came out of it is we just need to change the nomenclature
we just need to change the nomenclature
we just need to change the nomenclature right we need to stop calling it a
right we need to stop calling it a
right we need to stop calling it a wildfire and start calling it a wildland
wildfire and start calling it a wildland
wildfire and start calling it a wildland urban interface fire all right let’s be
urban interface fire all right let’s be
urban interface fire all right let’s be real with the situation that were
real with the situation that were
real with the situation that were confronted with every day because
confronted with every day because
confronted with every day because people’s perceptions will change once
people’s perceptions will change once
people’s perceptions will change once you start using those terms more
you start using those terms more
you start using those terms more let’s stop calling it a fire season a
let’s stop calling it a fire season a
let’s stop calling it a fire season a fire season suggests that there’s a
fire season suggests that there’s a
fire season suggests that there’s a discrete period of the year in which we
discrete period of the year in which we
discrete period of the year in which we have fires that’s not the case in fact
have fires that’s not the case in fact
have fires that’s not the case in fact half of the largest fires in
half of the largest fires in
half of the largest fires in California’s recent history have
California’s recent history have
California’s recent history have happened in the wintertime so we need to
happened in the wintertime so we need to
happened in the wintertime so we need to change the way we think about this but
change the way we think about this but
change the way we think about this but most importantly the biggest
most importantly the biggest
most importantly the biggest recommendations that came out of that
recommendations that came out of that
recommendations that came out of that symposium were much like in 1973
symposium were much like in 1973
symposium were much like in 1973 research and education right so at this
research and education right so at this
research and education right so at this point I’ve hit
point I’ve hit
point I’ve hit sadly the midpoint in my working career
sadly the midpoint in my working career
sadly the midpoint in my working career I think right and I had to make a
I think right and I had to make a
I think right and I had to make a decision you know I spent years going to
decision you know I spent years going to
decision you know I spent years going to the scientific conferences giving
the scientific conferences giving
the scientific conferences giving presentations in front of other
presentations in front of other
presentations in front of other scientists and everybody sort of patting
scientists and everybody sort of patting
scientists and everybody sort of patting themselves on the back and each other
themselves on the back and each other
themselves on the back and each other saying oh yeah I agree with you and
saying oh yeah I agree with you and
saying oh yeah I agree with you and that’s great information and and a lot
that’s great information and and a lot
that’s great information and and a lot of this stuff just sat on a shelf and
of this stuff just sat on a shelf and
of this stuff just sat on a shelf and collected dust right and so I made a
collected dust right and so I made a
collected dust right and so I made a decision I stopped doing that and I
decision I stopped doing that and I
decision I stopped doing that and I started working hand in hand with the
started working hand in hand with the
started working hand in hand with the wildland firefighters and asking them
wildland firefighters and asking them
wildland firefighters and asking them what’s important to you what are the
what’s important to you what are the
what’s important to you what are the questions that need to be asked I wasn’t
questions that need to be asked I wasn’t
questions that need to be asked I wasn’t presenting my results just at national
presenting my results just at national
presenting my results just at national science meetings anymore I was
science meetings anymore I was
science meetings anymore I was presenting them at firefighter
presenting them at firefighter
presenting them at firefighter conferences workshops specific to those
conferences workshops specific to those
conferences workshops specific to those firefighters and what I found was the
firefighters and what I found was the
firefighters and what I found was the reports and the research and the
reports and the research and the
reports and the research and the information we had was relevant and it
information we had was relevant and it
information we had was relevant and it didn’t sit on a shelf and collect dust
didn’t sit on a shelf and collect dust
didn’t sit on a shelf and collect dust it made its way into the hands of our
it made its way into the hands of our
it made its way into the hands of our policymakers our legislature our
policymakers our legislature our
policymakers our legislature our decision makers at the local government
decision makers at the local government
decision makers at the local government state government and even even federal
state government and even even federal
state government and even even federal government level we were affecting some
government level we were affecting some
government level we were affecting some kind of change but it wasn’t enough
kind of change but it wasn’t enough
kind of change but it wasn’t enough right it wasn’t nearly enough we know
right it wasn’t nearly enough we know
right it wasn’t nearly enough we know that firefighters and wildland urban
that firefighters and wildland urban
that firefighters and wildland urban interface are regularly exposed to
interface are regularly exposed to
interface are regularly exposed to hazardous and toxic substances from
hazardous and toxic substances from
hazardous and toxic substances from carbon monoxide to volatile organic
carbon monoxide to volatile organic
carbon monoxide to volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic
compounds and polycyclic aromatic
compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons known cancer-causing
hydrocarbons known cancer-causing
hydrocarbons known cancer-causing substances we don’t know how bad it is
substances we don’t know how bad it is
substances we don’t know how bad it is and we don’t know what the long-term
and we don’t know what the long-term
and we don’t know what the long-term effects are because there has never been
effects are because there has never been
effects are because there has never been a long-term study on any of this we did
a long-term study on any of this we did
a long-term study on any of this we did a study and tracked about a hundred
a study and tracked about a hundred
a study and tracked about a hundred firefighters over a period of a couple
firefighters over a period of a couple
firefighters over a period of a couple of years and we found out
of years and we found out
of years and we found out that they exceeded all sorts of
that they exceeded all sorts of
that they exceeded all sorts of recommended heart temperature and
recommended heart temperature and
recommended heart temperature and exposure rates they were experiencing
exposure rates they were experiencing
exposure rates they were experiencing some of the harshest conditions
some of the harshest conditions
some of the harshest conditions imaginable on this planet we had fire
imaginable on this planet we had fire
imaginable on this planet we had fire fighters with peak heart rates sustained
fighters with peak heart rates sustained
fighters with peak heart rates sustained at above 200 beats a minute and even 220
at above 200 beats a minute and even 220
at above 200 beats a minute and even 220 beats a minute now if you know anything
beats a minute now if you know anything
beats a minute now if you know anything about your heart rate it says the
about your heart rate it says the
about your heart rate it says the American Heart Association recommends
American Heart Association recommends
American Heart Association recommends 220 minus your age as a maximum heart
220 minus your age as a maximum heart
220 minus your age as a maximum heart rate and a working heart rate maximum is
rate and a working heart rate maximum is
rate and a working heart rate maximum is 85% of that number right so if you want
85% of that number right so if you want
85% of that number right so if you want to do the mass mine is about 157 then
to do the mass mine is about 157 then
to do the mass mine is about 157 then you can figure out how old I am
you can figure out how old I am
you can figure out how old I am so two-thirds of our firefighters were
so two-thirds of our firefighters were
so two-thirds of our firefighters were working at or near dehydration many of
working at or near dehydration many of
working at or near dehydration many of them carried core body temperatures
them carried core body temperatures
them carried core body temperatures above 102 degrees for hours and hours at
above 102 degrees for hours and hours at
above 102 degrees for hours and hours at a time and a significant number of them
a time and a significant number of them
a time and a significant number of them were edging close to 104 degrees we were
were edging close to 104 degrees we were
were edging close to 104 degrees we were able to work with some of the foremost
able to work with some of the foremost
able to work with some of the foremost national laboratories National Institute
national laboratories National Institute
national laboratories National Institute of Standards and Technology the u.s.
of Standards and Technology the u.s.
of Standards and Technology the u.s. Forest Service and others and we brought
Forest Service and others and we brought
Forest Service and others and we brought the materials we brought these things
the materials we brought these things
the materials we brought these things into the laboratory and said what are we
into the laboratory and said what are we
into the laboratory and said what are we exposing these folks to what are these
exposing these folks to what are these
exposing these folks to what are these conditions like and then we did larger
conditions like and then we did larger
conditions like and then we did larger sort of burns where we tried to simulate
sort of burns where we tried to simulate
sort of burns where we tried to simulate you know the wildland urban interface
you know the wildland urban interface
you know the wildland urban interface but I’ll tell you something I learned
but I’ll tell you something I learned
but I’ll tell you something I learned along this journey as well it’s not like
along this journey as well it’s not like
along this journey as well it’s not like being there you know researchers and
being there you know researchers and
being there you know researchers and scientists are really good at being in
scientists are really good at being in
scientists are really good at being in the laboratory a lot of times looking at
the laboratory a lot of times looking at
the laboratory a lot of times looking at things for different perspective I had
things for different perspective I had
things for different perspective I had the opportunity to work side-by-side
the opportunity to work side-by-side
the opportunity to work side-by-side shoulder-to-shoulder with wildland
shoulder-to-shoulder with wildland
shoulder-to-shoulder with wildland firefighters and it completely changed
firefighters and it completely changed
firefighters and it completely changed my perspective on wildland firefighting
my perspective on wildland firefighting
my perspective on wildland firefighting being there seeing that feeling it
being there seeing that feeling it
being there seeing that feeling it breathing it right it completely changed
breathing it right it completely changed
breathing it right it completely changed my perspective on what these folks are
my perspective on what these folks are
my perspective on what these folks are putting themselves through on a regular
putting themselves through on a regular
putting themselves through on a regular basis scientists often aren’t able to
basis scientists often aren’t able to
basis scientists often aren’t able to see the forest for the trees and so we
see the forest for the trees and so we
see the forest for the trees and so we need to work hand in hand with those
need to work hand in hand with those
need to work hand in hand with those firefighters and so we created a program
firefighters and so we created a program
firefighters and so we created a program at Cal State University at San Marcos
at Cal State University at San Marcos
at Cal State University at San Marcos that’s a Bachelor of Science in wildland
that’s a Bachelor of Science in wildland
that’s a Bachelor of Science in wildland fire and the urban interface first of
fire and the urban interface first of
fire and the urban interface first of its kind in the country
its kind in the country
its kind in the country and there’s something unique to this
and there’s something unique to this
and there’s something unique to this program we actually worked hand
program we actually worked hand
program we actually worked hand and with firefighters and fire agencies
and with firefighters and fire agencies
and with firefighters and fire agencies across the United States and we told
across the United States and we told
across the United States and we told them look I’m not hiring folks you are
them look I’m not hiring folks you are
them look I’m not hiring folks you are so what is it that you need in this
so what is it that you need in this
so what is it that you need in this curriculum what do you need to have
curriculum what do you need to have
curriculum what do you need to have these folks learn and of course a big
these folks learn and of course a big
these folks learn and of course a big push was the research side the
push was the research side the
push was the research side the scientists we want good scientists and
scientists we want good scientists and
scientists we want good scientists and we realized that if you want to
we realized that if you want to
we realized that if you want to effectuate good change
effectuate good change
effectuate good change yeah the scientists the researchers we
yeah the scientists the researchers we
yeah the scientists the researchers we can sit back and we can do our job but
can sit back and we can do our job but
can sit back and we can do our job but man if you provide them with the tools
man if you provide them with the tools
man if you provide them with the tools themselves to do it that’s the biggest
themselves to do it that’s the biggest
themselves to do it that’s the biggest opportunity for change and so hopefully
opportunity for change and so hopefully
opportunity for change and so hopefully if all the permissions are through the
if all the permissions are through the
if all the permissions are through the university system and everything else
university system and everything else
university system and everything else next year we’ll be launching this
next year we’ll be launching this
next year we’ll be launching this program and we hope that it’s just one
program and we hope that it’s just one
program and we hope that it’s just one more tool that we can give the wildland
more tool that we can give the wildland
more tool that we can give the wildland urban interface firefighters to do their
urban interface firefighters to do their
urban interface firefighters to do their job today thank you
job today thank you
job today thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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