HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Fire crew that worked on the Mullen and Calwood Fires in a three-week stint in Wyoming and Colorado this month is home.
Captain Craig Walle, Captain Travis Kerschner and Mark Penner from the Kansas Forest Service departed October 7.
"To go out west on any of these wildfires, you have to have what they call a Red Card certification," said Hutchinson Fire Chief Steven Beer. "That's a wildland certification. Not just any firefighter or any fire department can go out west. We're very fortunate that our entire fire department is what they call Red Card certified. On a yearly basis, they have to walk three miles with 45 pounds on their back in under 45 minutes."
A separate crew of firefighters also went out to the East Troublesome Fire last week and has returned safely. The department thanks everyone for their kind remarks and keeping them in your thoughts.