Welcome to the Firefighter Type 2 Course April 6-7 2024

Hey Team, 

My name is Tanya Antonio, I live in Los Angeles. I am taking this course because I am passionate about ecology, and this is a new way to honor the land I live on. I am very new to this whole world- just signed up and did my first day at a wildland fire fighter training course and will have a little bit more experience by the time I join you all in April. 

Fun Fact: I am a professional fire dancer. When I learned about the practice of prescribed burns, I thought it was such an amazing, beautiful and specific way for a fire dancer to volunteer and give back to the land so- here I am

-T 
 

My name is Mikayla Blair and I live in Quincy, CA! I am taking this course to learn more about prescribed fire and gain some experience that will assist me on future burns. I have participated on a number of prescribed burns and taken an FFT2 course in the past. A fun fact about myself is that I was in a ranch commerical as a kid. 

Hello All! My name is Crystal Pombo, I live in Tuolumne county. I am taking this course to expand my knowledge on prescribed burning and the benefits of reintroducing fire to the landscape. I have some experience with burning through courses taken at a local Community College, as well as use of fire at home. I currently work for a local, environmental non-profit helping to oversee large fuel breaks being constructed in our area, and this course is a great way to deepen my understanding of the work we are involved in. I look forward to meeting you all!
Crystal

Hello! My name is Leah Armer. I live in Tuolumne county and work for an environmental non-profit on the Stanislaus National Forest. I am taking this course to expand my wildfire knowledge and gain experience with prescribed burns. I have taken wildfire courses and have worked supplies/logistics on a fire but have not participated in burns. Fun fact, I love to scuba dive!

Hello,

My name is Kalli O'Connor. I live in Ojai, and I am taking this course because I work at the Ojai Valley Fire Safe Council. The Thomas Fire was a devastating event that occurred here and informs a lot of the preparedness projects we do. I believe knowing more about firefighting is vital to my job. I do not have any prior experience with wildfire. I was a witness to a prescribed burn last May at the Steelhead Preserve here in Ojai. It was a collaboration among Ventura County Resource Conservation District, Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, and the Ventura County Fire Department. The target was to burn the thistle before seeding. Interestingly, the vegetation was still too wet and the weather conditions not dry enough to achieve the goal. A fun fact about me is I grew up on Saipan, a 7 by 14 mile tropical island near the Marianas Trench. 

I'm really looking forward to this course! Thank you.
 

Good Evening, 
Nathan Quinn here, I just moved back to San Francisco with my wife and Zoe (our Shiba Inu, who runs the house)  after living in the Santa Cruz Mountains - having more than a few run ins with fire and changes in weather. I miss the mountains and I guess since I'm here I miss the forest and the fires as well? I am excited to meet you all and to take the course. Thanks for having me! 
Nathan 
sabainq@gmail.com