Wildland Fire Training To Be Offered To All Tulsa Firefighters

Tulsa Fire Department grass rigs are sent to every grass fire in town.

"It's four wheel drive so we can take it off road, which is something we wouldn't be able to do with this 19 and a half ton engine," explained Victor Grimes of the Tulsa Fire Department.

The grass rigs are loaded up with the equipment to fight some of the most unpredictable and unruly fires.

"When you are able to use foam, you penetrate the fires a whole lot better," added Grimes. "It breaks up the grass, so you can get to hidden fires."  

Along with all of the equipment comes advanced knowledge of how to fight grass and wildland fires from 35 of the newest Tulsa firefighters, like Ashton Phillips.

"[There are] fairly different types of equipment, different types of hoses. They are made from different materials than used in structure fires," explained Phillips.

Phillips is certified by the Oklahoma Department of Forestry with what's called a Red Card Certification.

"It gives them a more baseline understanding of how grass fires act, how the weather reacts to it, the terrain," said Tulsa Fire Department Captain Jose Ariza.

Phillips explained, “You actually dig a line in the soil to get rid of all the fresh mineral on top that fuels the fire.”           

Part of the training also teaches firefighters how multiple agencies, including the National Guard, can communicate while on the scene of a large fire.

Soon, this training will be available to every Tulsa firefighter.