MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. — 29 U.S. Marines stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar received certification to form the Marine Corps’ first team of wildland firefighters on March 24, according to a fire captain at the MCAS Miramar Fire Department.
According to Chief Brian Cato, the assistant chief of training and safety with MCAS Miramar Fire Department, there has never before been a hand crew, or team of wildland firefighters, comprised primarily of active-duty Marines.
These Marines became certified as wildland firefighters after completing S-130 Firefighter Training through the MCAS Miramar Fire Department. They are now certified through the California Incident Command Certification System, the system used by California to deploy firefighting resources, and are qualified to respond to wildland fires on the air station, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and the state of California during times of crisis.