Rob McKenzie
Training Division Manager |
Northwest Timber Fallers, Inc. has launched a Training Division offering classroom and hands-on instruction from sharpening a chain to Class C training and cutting hazard trees. The company plans to expand training opportunities at a later date.
“Our mission has always been to make hazard tree removal on wildland fires safer, while expanding opportunities for experienced commercial timber fallers,” said NWTF President & CEO Shari Downhill. “The new Training Division will allow NWTF to meet that first mission goal of increasing safety and skill on one of the most dangerous jobs in the nation.”
According to Training Division Manager, Rob McKenzie, the program will meet all requirements for providing Forest Service basic chainsaw training (S212). “We also will design programs and classes based on the customer’s needs,” said McKenzie, who has been a lead/advanced faller for NWTF since 2003. |
NWTF President & CEO Shari Downhill chose McKenzie to head the new training division. “With his extensive falling and wildland fire incident experience, Rob is an asset to any wildland fire incident he works,” said Downhill. “He is highly skilled at falling hazard trees and snags under the worst conditions and his ability to share that knowledge with others will increase their safety, as well as, their skill.” Prior to coming to NWTF, McKenzie owned and operated his own timber falling company and has worked in the field throughout the northwest since 1985.
The company plans to begin classes in Spring 2007.
Lane County Parks and Recreation will be one of the first to participate.
For more information, call 800.891.5655.
Northwest Timber Fallers is known for training highly skilled and experienced commercial timber fallers to operate in a wildland fire or emergency environment. These fallers are dispatched in teams or “modules” to federal and state agencies such as USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Oregon Department of Transportation.
The “vehicle” that delivers this valuable resource rapidly and efficiently to fire and incident managers is an effective, nationally recognized procurement “package” called the “Timber Faller Module”. The module concept is designed to provide the needed resources with a guarantee for safety and expertise.
The module includes two experienced professional fallers, their equipment, vehicle, insurance and a guarantee that they have completed all training and certification and that their professional background and work experience is verified. The module comes with one order number and one set of paperwork – easy, fast and efficient.
Rapid dispatch is possible because NWTF has fallers strategically located throughout the West, including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Northern California. In addition, Oregon Department of Transportation dispatches NWTF fallers to cut hazard trees on emergency incidents.
Northwest Timber Fallers (NWTF) is a HubZone, woman-owned, small business..
Clients include:
USDA Forest Service
Bureau of Land Management (BLM
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
National Park Service (NPS)
Department of Defense
Army Corps of Engineers.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
State lands/forestry departments
State Departments of Transportation
State, County & Municipal Parks Departments
Airports/Approach Zones
Power/Utility Companies |
