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JUNE 8, 2001

Secretary of Interior Gale Norton is something of a one-woman fire force these days.

With the fire season about to kick into high gear and a repeat of last year's devastating blazes threatening the country once again, Norton has been pushing her department's fire safety, prevention, and protection plan heavily these days.

But she's also added a special component to her daily duties: Indian Country. Native Americans already make about 20 percent of the nation's fire fighting force and Norton has launched a concerted effort to recruit even more into the ranks.

"We want to get people hired within the next couple of weeks so that we have the opportunity to train them before we get to the height of the fire fighting season," Norton said in an interview yesterday. "We have received a big response and we still have a ways to go."

"I feel sometimes like a walking help wanted ad because I say it in every meeting," she added. "Whenever I've met with groups for Indian Country or dealt with media from Indian Country, I have taken the opportunity to say we are looking for people."

The effort appears to be paying off. Applications from Indian Country have increased, said Bureau of Indian Affairs spokesperson Nedra Darling, including those from women.

"We certainly encourage women to apply," said Norton. The White Mountain Apache Tribe of Arizona boasts its own all-female crew, in fact.

Some 6,000 Native Americans are already employed by Norton's department and other federal agencies. With 30,000 employed by the government as a whole, American Indian and Alaska Native firefighters make up a significant part of the force.

Among the bunch are five "hot shot" crews composed entirely of American Indians. The Mescalero Apache Nation of New Mexico, the Fort Apache Nation of Arizona, the San Carlos Apache Tribe of Arizona, the Confederated Warm Springs Tribes of Oregon, and the Blackfeet Nation of Montana can claim fame among the elite set of crews who are on the front lines of dangerous blazes.

These five 20-member crews, too, represent a considerable number of the 70 crews nationwide. The BIA's budget will fund three more this year, to be drawn from the Navajo Nation, the Zuni Tribe of New New Mexico, and Pueblos in northern New Mexico.

Such heavy participation is not lost on Norton.

"Many of them continue a family or tribal tradition of fire fighting," she said. "Its something that means a great deal to them personally of being able to help their reservation and represent their family."

For others, said Norton, fire fighting is simply a worthwhile an interesting job. The pay -- starting at $8 to $12 an hour and moving up to $15 to $17 an hour -- entices some, she added.

Becoming a fire fighter requires physical strength and about two weeks of training. There are some age requirements, too: No one over the age of 35, although Terry Virden, director of the BIA's Office of Trust Responsibilities, said yesterday on Native America Calling there are always exceptions.

Norton said there are still about 600 Indian Country fire jobs open. She pointed out that there have been 34,000 fires put out so far this year, which not only has the Interior worried but also underscores the need to fill the positions.

"Fire is always a danger," said Norton. "We are taking steps that go beyond what we've ever done before to prevent [massive fires] from happening."

Relevant Links:
Fire Jobs, BIA - http://fire.nifc.nps.gov/bia/firejobs/firejobs1.html
BIA Wildfire Management - http://fire.nifc.nps.gov/bia
National Fire Plan - http://www.fireplan.gov
National Interagency Fire Center - http://www.nifc.gov/index.html