Maryland Wildland Fire Crew Dispatched to Colorado

Maryland’s first 20-person wildland fire crew of 2017, MDS #1, has been dispatched to battle wildfires in the Rocky Mountain Area of Colorado.

The fully trained, certified and equipped crew was mobilized at the Madonna Ranger Station in Harford County July 8. They will join other crews from the mid-Atlantic region in Colorado over the next few weeks.

MDS #1 has been assigned to the Deer Gulch Fire. The Centennial State is contending with five large wildfires.

MDS #1 is composed of representation from various Maryland Department of Natural Resources units and area fire departments:

• Maryland Forest Service: 13
• Maryland Park Service: 3
• Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service: 1
• Human Resources: 1
• Fire Service: 2

The Maryland Forest Service has participated in mobilizing wildland firefighters throughout the United States since 1974 as part of a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.