Detroit Lakes WMD crew members Jay Rude (left) and Shawn "Woody" Woodbury, recently returned home from an 80-day assignement to the BLue Goose fire crew in Washington. - FWS photo

Shawn (Woody) Woodbury and Jay Rude members of the fire crew at Detroit Lake WMD participated in a 80 day detail to the Blue Goose Fire Crew.  This crew is stationed at Mid-Columbia National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Moses Lake Washington.  

The two primary goals of the crew are to provide training opportunities for agency firefighters, while partnering with a local Job Corps Center (JCC) to provide job skills to future firefighters.

Shawn and Jay both were able to enhance their leadership and fire fighting skills while on this assignment and that it was a valuable experience.  During the 2007 fires season the Blue Goose Crew was asigned to fires in Washington, Utah, Oregon, and Idaho.

The 20-person crew has 8 positions available for JCC students and 11 appointments for FWS fire personnel available for details in the 2007 fire season.  Priority was given to those individuals that needed trainee assignments for crew boss, squad boss, and ICT4/5.

Of the 11 agency positions, there is an assistant superintendent position, 3 squad leader positions, and 7 crewmember positions. Crewmember positions were available to those seeking training at the squad boss level.  Squad boss positions were open to firefighters who needed more training in the crew boss capacity.