Choctaw Nation fire crew gets their start in Southern Region

Jon Sutherland recently earned his GED diploma and was working as an assistant manager at his local Dollar General when he heard about a fire crew being developed through the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Through this partnership with the USDA Forest Service, Sutherland is living out his family’s legacy of fire and forestry. (USDA Forest Service photo by Sheila Holifield)

The smell of fire permeates Jon Sutherland’s childhood memories—his uncle and grandfather, both firefighters, often came home smelling of burnt pine.

“I still remember seeing them come home after a hard day’s work and being tired, but seeing how proud they were of the work they had accomplished,” said Sutherland, a firefighter with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s tribal wildland fire module. “Ever since I was itty bitty, it’s been my dream to work in the woods.”

Sutherland—who earned his GED diploma and was working as an assistant manager at his local Dollar General—heard about a fire crew being developed through the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

A partnership with the USDA Forest Service and a $1.2 million grant formed the first-ever Forest Service-funded tribal wildland fire module, a 10-person team of firefighters dedicated to prescribed burning and fuel reduction projects. A wildland fire module is a highly skilled team of firefighters with expertise in managing prescribed fire and wildfire to benefit ecosystems.

Firefighters with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s tribal wildland fire module prepare to construct a fireline in Alabama’s Talladega National Forest. Resembling a hiking trail, a fireline is the process of removing burnable material down to mineral soil that cannot burn or smolder. (USDA Forest Service photo by Sheila Holifield)

The funding, thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, seeks to reduce wildfire risk; create healthy, resilient forest; and address equity in the wildland fire workforce.

After he made a few perfectly timed phone calls, Sutherland was hired by the module and is now living out his family’s legacy of working in forestry and fire. Through the work with the module, Sutherland is certified as a Type 2 Firefighter. That designation means he can perform fire suppression and fuels management duties in adverse climate, fuel and terrain conditions.

“I am proud and really honored to be part of this great work, as the first of many to hopefully come behind me. When I have kids one day, I can show them the work we did on our lands, for our tribe,” said Sutherland.

The lands around the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma are vast and filled with dense, woody areas. Indigenous communities understand first-hand the value that fire can bring to the landscape.

Jon Sutherland, firefighter with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s tribal wildland fire module uses a drip torch to burn-off excess vegetation during a controlled burn. Prescribed fires are carefully planned and consider the weather patterns, equipment and personnel needs. (USDA Forest Service photo by Sheila Holifield)

Southern forests depend on fire. That’s because many of the trees that dominate Southern forests—including pine and oak—depend on fire to thrive, as do many plants that live beneath these trees. Historically, many forests in the American South would burn every two to five years; often stewarded by Native Americans or caused naturally by lightning. These fires cleared the forests of undergrowth, allowing for a park-like forest floor of grasses and wildflowers, providing food for wildlife and pollinators.

The firefighting crew seeks to mimic fire’s natural role in Southern ecosystems using prescribed fire.

“Fire is an important part of caring for the land and vegetation to ensure it is around for future generations,” said Devin Longan, superintendent of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s tribal wildland fire module.

Longan, who previously worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs on a fuels crew, is excited to have the opportunity to gain new qualifications.

The culture of fire in the South is longstanding and should be considered an example of how to successfully accomplish prescribed fire across boundaries. The key to the South’s success is its collaborative, unified coordination with Tribes, states, non-government organizations, universities, communities and landowners. (USDA Forest Service photo by Sheila Holifield)

“I feel honored to be here in this role. It has opened a door for me to obtain qualifications that I thought were out of reach for me, but are now more attainable,” said Longan.

For their first assignment, the Choctaw Nation crewmembers—alongside Forest Service fire management professionals—conducted a prescribed burn of about 750 acres on the Talladega National Forest in Alabama.

“For a lot of us, this was the largest controlled burn we have ever been a part of. We were able to see the change in topography and observe how fire behaves in different weather conditions, all in a controlled environment,” commented Longan.

A partnership like this provides learning opportunities for everyone involved. It’s one nation helping another nation.

“This work helps us understand more about fire in general. We can bring back the techniques and knowledge we gain and use it as we respond to fires on tribal lands,” said Longan.

As the team works toward becoming a fully qualified Type 2 team, they participate in prescribed fires and fuel reduction projects, remove hazardous trees and suppress wildland fire across the nation.

Devin Longan, superintendent of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s tribal wildland fire module, participates in a prescribed burn to reduce hazardous forest fuels and improve wildlife habitat. (USDA Forest Service photo by Sheila Holifield)

The Forest Service’s work with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma began in 1989. Together, they have trained and developed firefighting crews to serve the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma service area. Over time, the partnership has equipped more than 700 tribal members with firefighting capabilities.

“It’s important we continue to build relationships with partners that help us extend the work of prescribed fire across boundaries,” said Trevor Callaghan, fire management officer on the Oakmulgee Ranger District in Brent, Alabama.

The right fire, at the right place, at the right time reduces hazardous fuels, protects communities from extreme fires, improves habitat for threatened and endangered species and promotes the growth of trees, wildflowers, and other plants.

Editor’s Note: The Choctaw Nation is the third-largest Indian nation in the U.S., with more than 200,000 tribal members and more than 11,000 employees.