News  MassWildlife staff among wildland firefighters deployed to Minnesota

MassWildlife’s Ben Mazzei is currently deployed to support wildfire response operations in Minnesota.  Ben is a member of the Massachusetts Inter-Agency Suppression Module, an 11-person wildland firefighting team made up of staff from MassWildlife and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

In the coming weeks, additional members of MassWildlife’s prescribed fire crew, including Alex Entrop, Dan Bove, and John Garofoli, will deploy alongside other trained wildland firefighters to assist with fire suppression efforts in northern Minnesota near the Canadian border.

Drought conditions and widespread lightning storms in early July sparked numerous wildfires across the Superior National Forest and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. While some fires are contained, wildfire activity continues, and new fires are being ignited by dry lightning storms in the “Bear Trap”, “Sioux”, and “Thumb” fire areas. Initial attack and continued suppression efforts are focused in these locations.

While providing support, MassWildlife staff apply their skills in new environments, work alongside fire professionals from across the country, and gain valuable experience that will strengthen the agency’s Prescribed Fire Program. The knowledge gained by staff during wildfire assignments helps improve habitat management and wildlife conservation efforts here at home.

Massachusetts has a long history of assisting with wildfire response efforts. Wildland firefighters from MassWildlife and the DCR have supported fire operations in Montana, Idaho, California, Oregon, Arizona, and Alaska, as well as in Quebec Canada.

MassWildlife is proud of the dedication and service of its prescribed fire crew and grateful for their contributions to wildfire response efforts and conservation across North America.