US Forest Service and historically Black colleges unite to boost diversity in wildland firefighting

By TERRY TANG and GEORGE WALKER IV
Associated Press

HAZEL GREEN, Ala. (AP) — A partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and historically Black colleges or universities is opening the eyes of students of color who never pictured themselves fighting forest fires. An on-site fire academy in Alabama is part of the 1890 Land Grant Institution Wildland Fire Consortium. The consortium is comprised of Florida A&M University, Southern University in Louisiana, Tuskegee University and Alabama A&M University. Its conception came during the pandemic as officials brainstormed how to boost diversity. Wildfire season around the U.S. continues to grow while minorities remain underrepresented in forestry and firefighting. HBCU students say it’s been a boost to train on the fire lines alongside classmates who look like them.