Local forester Aaron Mielke helping out at MN Wildfire Academy

The 19th annual Minnesota Wildfire Academy was held this week, June 3-7, at Itasca Community College and the University of MN campus in Grand Rapids.  Organizers say about 800 students have been on campus all week for a wide range of courses and hands-on instruction.
 
Participants in the academy come from wide range of agencies that partner in the event of a wildfire—the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Minnesota Fire Chief’s Association, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Conservation Corps of Minnesota.
 
There are also some firefighting personnel from our area. WTIP’s Rhonda Silence checked in with Aaron Mielke, forester and wildland firefighter at the Grand Marais DNR office to learn more about this training event.