The Act provides for the exchange of firefighting equipment and personnel for the state of California and all the participating agencies through out the Pacific. This would allow for excess of military equipment as well as firefighting equipment and training for the local Departments of Public Safety. The Departments of Public Safety include the fire and police departments, as well as EMS (Emergency Medical Services).

The training that is given by the State Co-Op consists of wildland fire-fighting class that also includes live fire drills. The class, Basic Wildland Firefighting, teaches students about safety, fire behavior, weather, and tactics. As part of the class, live fire drills are conducted where students will experience fire line construction, deploying safety measures such as the fire shelter, and fire behavior. The crew will take the principles of firefighting and be able to apply them as needed when they return home. The vegetation in many of the areas is conducive to what is seen in Southern California. The American Samoa team currently assigned to the Storrie Fire is here to get as much on the job training as possible, as well has help contain and control this fire.

The American Samoa team consists of 18 crewmembers and 4 overhead personnel. The crewmembers, which include two women, are made up of firefighters, police officers and emergency medical service personnel. The overhead personnel are from the National Park Service, Volcano National Park in Hawaii, and consist of a crew leader and two squad bosses. The National Park Service conducted the training for this crew within the last few weeks, just prior to leaving for California. The crew arrived at the Storrie Fire fully equipped to fight fire, however, not equipped for the cold night-time weather. Coats were quickly located, the problem resolved, and the crew was out onto the line less than 24 hours after arrival. Travel time to the fire from Samoa was approximately 30 hours. The crew was enthusiastic and very happy to be here. They expressed not only that they are proud to be a territory of the United States, but also to be firefighters and able to assist firefighting efforts on a going fire.

Recently, the territory celebrated its 100 year anniversary of being a territory of the United States. The two week long celebration was big event with many activities and visits from high ranking government officials. Samoa also has produced some dozen players for the NFL, among them Junior Seau and Jessie Sappolo.

For more information, contact the Storrie Fire Information Center at 530-283-7882

Under authority of the State Co-Op Act of 1978, the U.S. Forest Service trains firefighting crews from Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Republic of Palau, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Commonwealth of the Mariannas.

Rusty Witwer, Operations Chief for the Storrie Fire is the Assistant Co-Op / Training Officer from the Regional Office of the Forest Service in Sacramento, CA, is the coordinator of the crews and their training.