- April 28, 2024
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Flagler County Prescribed Fire Program Supervisor Michael Orlando is headed to Northern California where several wildfires are raging. He will be deployed for about three weeks.
Orlando’s assignment will begin at the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Big Bar, California, well north of Sacramento.
“I won’t know which fire I will be working until I get there and get my order,” said Orlando, who regularly deploys to help fight wildland fires elsewhere in the country. “I’m excited to deploy again to assist our brothers and sisters out west, as well as the residents affected by these fires. It’s an honor to serve.”
Last year he served as “dozer boss” at California’s “North Complex Fire,” a fire that was referred to then as “historic and unprecedented” as 215,000 acres burned in 24 hours. Orlando is credited with keeping safe the 11 people who were in his charge through his experience and ability to remain calm as he issued instructions.
“Last year was a real eye opener. It had been awhile since I have seen fire activity like that. It was a great reminder that safety procedures that have been created over the years are for a reason,” Orlando said. “Wildland firefighters undergo a lot of training annually and that really paid off for me last year. My training got tested in an intense situation. Everything turned out okay, but it could have gone differently.”
It is unlikely, Orlando said, that he would serve in the same capacity this time around.
“Many firefighters in Florida who haven’t deployed out west have never seen fire activity like this,” Orlando said. “Being exposed to western fires allows me to better assist back home in the event that we experience fires of that magnitude.”
Flagler County experienced significant fire activity in 1985, 1998, and nearly again in 2011.
“It has been a long time, thankfully, but the potential is still there,” Orlando said. “As the fire environment is changing for many reasons, we are going to need to change the way we look at fires in Florida. Through training and experience we will be able to better prepare and prevent those types of fires.”
Flagler County signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the North and South Central Florida Prescribed Fire Working Group.
“This agreement allows 26 different agencies the ability to work together in a time of need to help reach one common goal of more good fire to prevent devastating fires,” Orlando said. “Fire prevention, education, and interagency partnerships will play a key role in the future of fire in Florida. Flagler County has been very progressive in continuing to maintain our relationships with local fire agencies while creating new ones.”
