AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) teams respond to Idaho fires

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Nov. 26, 2024
Media Contact: [email protected]

Three AmeriCorps NCCC forest teams deployed to Idaho to assist the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, the Sawtooth National Forest and the Boise National Forest in wildfire risk reduction.

"I am infinitely grateful to AmeriCorps, the U.S. Forest Service and the state of Idaho for the opportunity to serve on my first wildfire in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest," Lily Liebowitz, AmeriCorps NCCC forest team, Delta 2 member said. "I had the wonderful chance to meet, network and learn from wildland firefighters from all over the country and across agencies."

The first team, Delta 2, deployed Aug. 31 and was assigned to the Moore Square Complex Fire near Grangeville in Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest in the Salmon River Ranger District.

The Moore Square Complex Fire reached more than 900 acres in size and the team worked on a variety of tasks to help suppress the fire, including - creating a constructed hand line to contain spot fires, removing dead trees that were hazardous to the safety of all crews, using a tactic called gridding to ensure any burning embers in the back were put out to stop the spread of new fires, protecting assets such as cabins, signage and more.

The second team, Green 3, deployed to the Sawtooth National Forest and are stationed in Sun Valley to address the ongoing need for reforestation and wildfire risk reduction. The team will perform a variety of activities such as conducting regeneration surveys after wildfire, testing a new survey protocol, assisting with burn piles, timber cruising and marking trees.

The third team, Green 4, is stationed in the Boise National Forest in Idaho City to address the ongoing need for wildfire risk reduction. The team will be performing fuels reduction activities for prescribed burns, as well as utilizing both broadcast and burn pile measures.

AmeriCorps NCCC is a 10 month, full-time, team-based residential service program for 18-26 year olds. AmeriCorps members serving in the NCCC program complete a variety of service projects and gain experience while supporting climate change mitigation, building affordable housing, disaster response and more.

Teams are generally assigned three to four projects that last between three to 13 weeks in duration and respond to the local communities' most critical needs throughout the U.S. and its territories.

Serve Idaho, the Governor's Commission on service and volunteerism, encourages and recognizes volunteers and empowers communities through service and AmeriCorps to address Idaho's unmet needs. Serve Idaho oversees AmeriCorps state, national and AmeriCorps VISTA in Idaho. The organization also promotes and partners with AmeriCorps NCCC and AmeriCorps Seniors to help meet the needs of Idaho communities.

Learn more about AmeriCorps NCCC and how to serve.

###

In 2022, AmeriCorps committed more than $5.7 million to support Idaho communities through AmeriCorps initiatives. This federal investment leveraged more than $1.5 million in other resources to strengthen community impact, build local support and increase return on taxpayer dollars.

Serve Idaho is a division of the Idaho Department of Labor. The commission administers Idaho's AmeriCorps programs. Serve Idaho is funded in part by the federal agency AmeriCorps and the Idaho Department of Labor.

More information about Serve Idaho and AmeriCorps service opportunities is at serveidaho.gov

- end -

Serve Idaho is supported by AmeriCorps. A total of $4,519,228, or 61%, of the program is financed with federal funds, and $2,893,430, or 39%, is funded by local support.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.