The Wildland Firefighter Foundation is working to place statues to recognize the nation’s wildland firefighters at locations throughout the United States.

On May 2, Idaho became the first state to dedicate the eight-foot bronze statue at Boise Airport. The statues are created from the same mold used for one of the statues in the Wildland Firefighters National Monument at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise.

According to Melissa Schwagerl, office manager of the WFF, California and Nevada are in a friendly competition to become the second state to erect a statue for wildland firefighters at airports in Reno and Sacramento.

Airports with heavy wildland fire air traffic have been the jumping off point for the statue campaign, especially in the West, but the statues can be placed in any appropriate place to honor wildland firefighters, Schwagerl said. The WFF hopes to have a statue dedicated in Washington, D.C.

The purpose of erecting the statues is to honor not just fallen firefighters but those who are still on the line. “It really is more as a tribute to those who are still alive and in that career field, for present-day wildland firefighters to give them the recognition that we feel they deserve…”

"Wildland firefighters are usually hundreds to thousands of miles from home, which really distinguishes them from structure firefighters. There’s really no union for them. So we just really want recognition for them so people know that they’re out there, saving property and protecting the natural resources.”

The price of each statue is about $30,000. The National Wildland Suppression Assocation, a group of private contractors, supported the statue dedicated at Boise Airport. “We’d love to have corporate sponsors or sponsors to help with the expense, but the state of California is just doing a big fund-raising drive and they’re getting the word out among firefighters in that state,“ said Schwagerl.

The WFF is primary mission is to provide financial support to families of wildland firefighters injured or killed, but this fits with its support mission, said Schwagerl.

To make suggestions for appropriate locations for the statues, contact the WFF at 208-336-2996 or visit the Web site at www.wffoundation.org.You can also make donations to support ongoing state efforts to erect the statues through the WFF Web site.