Forest ecosystem management student helps fight fires in Montana

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When wildfires rage across the Western U.S., fire crews from across the country are deployed to assist local emergency responders. A recent deployment of Pennsylvania firefighters included a student from Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences and other graduates from the university.

Camryn Hornbaker, a senior majoring in forest ecosystem management, was part of a wildland firefighting crew that spent two weeks assisting with firefighting in eastern Montana. In addition to Hornbaker, the crew included eight other Penn State alumni: Stephen Hoy, class of 2003; Ralph Campbell, class of 2005; McClure Flook, class of 2006; Matthew Bardzilouskas and Benjamin Sands, both class of 2008; Eric Monger, class of 2009; Dale Ronk, class of 2013; and Daniel Yoder, class of 2023.

“Wildfires are becoming larger and more severe, and controlled fires are being conducted more frequently to safely manage fire-dependent ecosystems. Therefore, it is critical for students of fields such as forestry to become familiar with fire protection science and firefighting techniques,” says Jesse Kreye, assistant professor of fire and natural resource management in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management.

Hornbaker described the trip as very rewarding.

“It showed me firsthand the importance of controlling wildfires and supporting affected communities,” she said. “I gained a lot of experience and was able to work with many people who have been doing this for more than a decade.”

At Penn State, Hornbaker thanks Kreye and Brent Harding, director of forest management and forestry instructor, for helping navigate the preparation process.

“I strongly encourage students to look for internships or employment opportunities relevant to their field of study,” Harding said. “Ideally, the position will help focus their academic goals. Camryn went a step further and found a way to enhance her internship in our office and use it to gain the life experience of wildland firefighting.”

To qualify for the job, Hornbaker took several basic courses at Kreye, focusing on fire ecology. The courses covered the logistics of firefighting, and students traveled to New Jersey to help with controlled fires. Hornbaker also completed training conducted by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, attended a multi-day fire academy run by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, and passed a strenuous physical fitness test.

“I think preparing for the trip was both mental and physical,” Hornbaker said. “I tried to stay active and focused on hiking with a heavy pack to build endurance. I also had to maintain the right mental frame of mind. Going to a new place for two weeks with 19 people I had never met was scary. I knew it was going to be strenuous work in potentially dangerous conditions. I had to remind myself that I was qualified and capable of doing the job.”

Hornbaker noted that Kreyes' classes were key to her preparation. “He gave me the knowledge to understand how the fires behave,” she said. For example, she mentioned listening to the weather report to assess how conditions might affect the fire.

“Dedicated students like Camryn who have completed extensive firefighting training and go out West to fight fires not only gain valuable experience and see large-scale fires, but they also provide an incredible service in protecting lives, property and our precious natural resources under the most challenging conditions,” Kreye said.

During the operation, the crew worked on two fires, Hornbaker explained.

“We put out the first fire, which means we made sure the fire could not flare up again,” she said. “We used water or earth to prevent combustion.”

At the second fire, the crew helped clear a bulldozer, an area where vegetation is removed. A bulldozer follows, scraping the ground to remove potential fuels and contain wildfires.

The crew also participated in holding and backfiring operations. Hornbaker described holding as watching the “green” or unburned areas to make sure embers don't blow in and ignite more fires. Backfiring is the controlled setting of fires to clear the fuel in the path of a wildfire. It helps prevent the area near the control line from burning too intensely.

Hornbaker said the experience gave her the confidence to pursue a full-time job with the fire department after graduation.

“It was intimidating joining a crew where I was the youngest and only woman, but they were very supportive and encouraging,” she said.

Hornbaker encourages other students who are interested in firefighting to get involved.

“Go for it, but don't skimp on physical fitness,” she said. “I was worried I would feel lost and not know what I was doing, but my training prepared me for this. Everyone I worked with was happy to share their knowledge. If you plan on doing this full-time, working on an out-of-state crew is a great way to test the waters and get some experience in the field.”