Unseen Heroes: Supporting the Frontlines from the Backstage.
Emerging from remote landscapes around the country, our wildland firefighters carry the burden of battling wildfires. Sometimes supported by air tankers, helicopters, and frequently drones, they now find themselves taking action in our backyards. As the wildland urban interface expands, and factors like heavy recreation and climate change play out, firefighters have moved from their seclusion in the wilderness to our doorsteps.
Today’s wildfire may see tactics include weaving between neighborhoods, deploying hose lays and initiating intricate firing operations to starve encroaching conflagrations, safeguarding our homes from becoming another fuel source. These crucial tasks unfold increasingly closer to our neighborhoods, schools, and community centers. Once concealed heroes, they now stand in the spotlight. However, they aren't the only heroes in this narrative.
The unsung heroes in this saga are those industrious individuals quietly operating in factories and sewing rooms in places like Spokane, Washington, and Bozeman, Montana. They tirelessly innovate, seeking to enhance the safety and performance of our wildland firefighters—an occupation that, for far too long, has had to rely on antiquated communications technology, ill-fitting apparel, and sparse, bulky solutions to mitigate job-related hazards.
In a quiet sewing room in Bozeman, Montana, the team at Mystery Ranch constantly refines the pack systems that become a second home for many wildland firefighters whose wildfire seasons are now turning to wildfire years. Mystery Ranch wildfire packs are engineered to distribute weight in harmony with the firefighter's body, permitting the freedom to hike, carry weight, and operate tools or chainsaws throughout the arduous 16-hour shifts. As Luke Mayfield, Fire Program Manager at Mystery Ranch, often tells me, "Our goal is to make firefighters as comfortable as they can be in the most uncomfortable situations."
And when it comes to discomfort, nothing rivals the agony of blistered feet after weeks of relentless 16-hour days under punishing loads. In the world of wildland firefighting, healthy feet are crucial. This is where JK Boots, a family-run bootmaker from Spokane, Washington, steps in. They pride themselves on crafting superior, quality boots designed to support wildland firefighters every step of the way. Testimonials on the company’s website are filled with wildland firefighters, a typically reserved group, offering personal accounts of their feet staying happy and healthy mile after mile of steep, uneven, rocky terrain in JK Boots. This outcome is no accident—it's a testament to JK Boots' commitment to those tasked with protecting our natural resources and communities.
Companies like Mystery Ranch and JK Boots are just two examples of the backstage heroes working to support wildland firefighters. If you are in the industry and are passionate about improving the safety and performance of wildland firefighter and connecting with partners in the industry, we invite you to join us. Reach out to the Wildfire Industry Collective and share how you or your company are contributing to this mission. Let's stand together, for we are all part of this story
